Hb1062

[hrdware]

HB 1062 is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday 2/6 at 10:30 in room 432-A at the capitol.

[url="http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20INT/hB/HB1062%20INT.PDF]Text of Measure[/url]

This bill would allow teachers or school administrators who complete a reserve officer training course to carry a firearm on school property.

 

[hrdware]

HB1062 passed out of committee today and will now be eligible to be placed on the calendar for the full house.

Even if this bill passes and gets the governors signature, it requires local school districts to create policies to allow teachers and administrators to carry firearms.

Here are some key points from the hearing:

School districts would have to work with a local police department or a local sheriffs department to send teachers to CLEET to get training.

This would mean teachers and administrators would be reserve officers and be somewhat like a school district police force.

Superintendents seem to not be in support of this but teachers and parents are.

Many schools are hiring off duty police officers and are assuming the liability for the off duty officers. Schools should assume the liability for CLEET certified teachers as well.

This is not an all or nothing bill, it would give school districts the ability to implement if they wanted, but they are not required to do so. School districts can make the best plan they think will work for them.

Local school districts would pay for the CLEET certifications. There is a background check to get into CLEET and districts could also set their own policy on who could go.

Superintendent of Wagoner schools spoke and did not support this idea. There have only been 3 school shootings in OK. One was outside the school and was targeted at an individual, the other 2 were suicides. Thinks LEO should take care of this and thinks there will be more accidental discharges so the risk does not benefit the reward. Also wonders if a teacher could shoot a student they had developed a bond with.

An under sheriff from Tulsa spoke about their reserve program. He supports the bill and said they have a few teachers in their reserve force. Many active shooter scenarios involve a team response, but if you are the only officer there than, "some days it just sucks to be a cop".

 

[XD-9Guy]

Sounds like a good time for parents of schoolage children to contact their superintendents to express their support for this initiative and remind them that their personal feelings on the matter are largely irrelevant.

 

[austin.brown]

My wife is a teacher at a Title 1 school. I hope this passes and that school adopts it.

 

[9mmTeacher]

As a school Supt. I can tell you that many of my colleagues do not support the idea of Administrators or Teachers carrying because they have access to Resource Officers in their school sites. However, I can tell you with all honesty that a majority of Supt. fully support and welcome the opportunity. I am in a rural area. We have a local PD that cooperates and works with us fully at the school. However, response time is a very important issue. The safety and security of my students is of utmost importance. Although I hope and pray that I would never be forced to use my weapon at school, I want you to know that I would if I could prevent even one child from being injured. I do not have a single Principal or Site Administrator that is not willing to do the same to protect their students.

 

[CoachR64]

As long as our politicians continue to attack inanimate objects instead of focusing on the very crucial issue of mental health reform, school shootings are going to get worse before they get better. I can predict what is going to happen before schools truly buy in to arming teachers.

In the states where this passes, most rural schools will eagerly adopt this policy. The large districts and wealthier districts will refuse to allow teachers to carry. A shooting will occur at a school that denied teachers the right to carry. The family of the slain kids/teachers will have lawyers chomping at the bit to get ahold of the case and sue the district out of existence. Schools, being desperately afraid of lawsuits, will then allow teachers to carry to prevent future litigation.

I know of districts where superintendents are already saying "no" and refusing to consider this notion. We need to be calling and writing our superintendents and telling them not only do we support the legislation, but we demand our teachers be given the tools to protect our kids. And we need to start now. The more school staff we can get on our side, the more pull we have.

 

[scha2707]

My wife is also a teacher at a Title 1 school and she wouldn't feel comfortable carrying but doesn't have a problem if others do.

I am trying to encourage her to become more comfortable with a pistol and think she should carry if given the opportunity because her school has no hallways and is made up of many 4-classroom pods connected by canopies, making it easy for any crazy to bust in her room.

 

[frankos72]

This is great news. I saw on the news this morning that was going to the floor. I don't know if that means for vote or just for discussion. My guess is discussion will start today.

 

[CoachR64]

The news reports we are seeing now claim 240hrs of reserve officer training will be mandated for a teacher to carry. This is a great way to insure almost no teachers will receive the training necessary to carry at school. Another illusion of safety measure. We need to get realistic about protecting our kids.

 

[XD-9Guy]

The news reports we are seeing now claim 240hrs of reserve officer training will be mandated for a teacher to carry. This is a great way to insure almost no teachers will receive the training necessary to carry at school. Another illusion of safety measure. We need to get realistic about protecting our kids.

That's 30 8hr days, 60 4hr blocks, etc. if they are including time spent at the range under instruction I don't know if that number is too crazy. This certainly isn't something you want the underqualified participating in. I'd have to see what is makes up that 240 hours to make my mind up on that requirement. As far as whether or not teachers can get that kind of training in? With the time off in the summer months it could be done, if not in one summer than surely in two.