PA District Authorizes School Police Use Of Semiautomatic Rifles

ALTOONA, PA — Altoona Area School District police officers can use AR-15 semiautomatic patrol rifles under a policy the school board adopted on Tuesday.

Superintendent Charles Prijatelj said the district wants the officers to have access to the guns if needed.

“At this point in time, the policy lists several items that the officers have access to," he told school directors before the vote.

"They do not necessarily carry those with them at all times. The purpose is so that if there is a situation, heaven forbid, they will have access to what they need equipment-wise to deal
with it.”

AR-15-style semiautomatic weapons are similar to military weapons. Semiautomatic weapons were used in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Douglas High School in Florida that left 17 people dead and the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in which 27 people died.

The Altoona district, located in Blair County about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh, is following the lead of the Pittston Area School District in Luzerne County. Pittston last year authorized shotguns and rifles for its school officers.

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