Armed teachers? In some Texas classrooms, the answer is 'yes'

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle by Jacob Carpenter, Dug Begley and Emily Foxhall 2/23/2018

Nearly one in seven school districts across Texas allow teachers and some staff to carry concealed weapons on campus, a new role for educators that has come amid a rash of school shootings and concerns about student safety.

The policies - adopted in recent years in mostly rural areas where law enforcement officials are not routinely on campus - position trained teachers, administrators and staff members to respond immediately to active shooter situations.

The setup mirrors President Donald Trump's call Friday for more school employees to carry weapons after a gunman killed 14 students and three adults at a Florida high school on Feb. 14.

"We think it has worked in Texas," said state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, who drafted a law that allowed the use of armed "school marshals" after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in 2012 that left 26 people dead.

"It will continue to work in Texas as we expand it," he said.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/Armed-teachers-In-some-Texas-classrooms-the-12704933.php

[thackney]

and not just Texas:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/us/armed-teachers-states-trnd/index.html

...After the Sandy Hook shooting, a school district in Arkansas wanted to hire an extra full-time security guard but couldn't afford it. Instead, they trained more than a dozen teachers and staff members as armed guards.

For nearly four years, the Clarksville School District -- about 100 miles northwest of Little Rock -- has had teachers, janitors, computer technicians and other staff members ready to respond in the case of a shooting, CNN affiliate KARK reported....

...Teachers and other staff members are becoming "school sentinels" in South Dakota to protect students.
Since a state law passed in 2013, at least two school districts in the state have launched a "school sentinel program," which allows the arming of school employees, security guards or volunteers....

Indiana schools can arm teachers, but most don't. More might start.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2018/02/23/indiana-schools-can-arm-teachers-but-most-dont-more-might-start/354277002/

Alabama not the only state considering guns for teachers
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/02/alabama_not_the_only_state_con.html

At Least 7 States Now Have Armed Staff in Schools
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/07/30/at-least-7-states-now-have-armed-staff-in-schools

[austingirl]

My town armed teachers in 2014. God love them.