One Texas school district has unveiled a sign on school grounds warning that its teachers are armed.
“Please be aware that the staff at Argyle ISD are armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students," the sign reads.
Here's more from KDAF-TV in Dallas.
Back in January, the district voted in favor of school marshals. Some Argyle teachers will act as the long arm of the law under the state’s Protection of Texas Children Act.
Gun-toting teachers must have and maintain a handgun license; pass a psychological evaluation; and undergo firearms and emergency response training.
Some parents say the district is right on target.
“I think if a tragedy does occur, lives can be saved by guns being in the right hands, and I think the teachers here might be able to stop something like that and life can be saved,” parent Lacey Fenoglio said.
Argyle ISD Superintendent, Dr. Telena Wright tells NewsFix continuous training is required, and some training even took place over summer break. However, the names and number of pistol-packing teachers will not be released for safety reasons.
Seven states - Texas, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama - have passed legislation to make it legal for teachers to carry a gun following the Dec. 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.
Greg Coker, creator of the Shield 91 program that helps schools effectively arm teachers, talked toBrian Kilmeade this morning, explaining the process by which armed teachers are chosen.
Coker, a Special Ops veteran, says he is on a "crusade" to prevent another attack like Sandy Hook, which took the lives of 20 children and six adults.
He said the program is worth it if it can save even one life. Coker noted that most school shootings are carried out in about five minutes, but it usually takes police about 10 minutes to respond.
Coker said a properly trained individual can draw and fire in two seconds, adding that the goal is to delay the shooter's actions until law enforcement arrives.
You can watch the full discussion below.
What's your take on the school's policy? Do you feel your child is more or less safe with their teacher carrying a gun?
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This article is from August 2014. But I thought it was interesting.
And I think it should be done in every school.