Bill Allowing Teachers to Carry Guns in Schools Approved by West Virginia House

On Wednesday, the Republican-led House of Delegates in West Virginia voted decisively to permit teachers and other school staff, who complete necessary training, to carry firearms in K-12 public schools.

Teachers With Guns

The bill, now proceeding to the Senate, enables teachers, administrators, and support staff with concealed carry permits to voluntarily bring firearms to school, aiming to use them for defense in the event of an active shooter.

These individuals, designated as “school protection officers,” would not receive extra pay for this role.

Cost-Effective Safety Solutions?

Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

Proponents argue that this measure offers a solution for West Virginia’s school systems that lack the resources to employ full-time school resource officers.

Guns in Class

Before the pivotal vote, Republican Delegate Dave Foggin from Wood County, who is also a physics teacher, expressed a profound reluctance about the possibility of using a firearm in his classroom.

Reluctance vs. Responsibility

Illustration. Image credit: Depositphotos

He acknowledged that shooting someone in such a setting is a dreadful thought, yet he affirmed his willingness to do so to protect his students from harm.

Facing Evil

“Evil is a problem. Hate is a problem. I would like to be able to combat hate with love, but unfortunately, it will take a firearm if someone else has one,” Foggin stated, prior to the bill’s decisive 89-11 approval by lawmakers, with only Democrats opposing.

Controversial Approval

In a related development, the Senate has approved a separate bill, now in the House, that allows education boards to employ armed military veterans and retired law enforcement as school guards.

Veterans to Guard Schools

Soldier and civilian shaking hands on white background, closeup — Illustration. Image by Depositphotos.com

The bill recently passed by the House echoes a similar proposal from last year, which got through one House committee but never reached the floor. This earlier proposal permitted school districts to join the protection officer program, subject to a public hearing for local community input.

A Recurring Theme

Illustration. Image credit: Shutterstock

The current bill initially made participation optional, but a last-minute amendment during Wednesday’s debate now mandates school district involvement if a staff member wishes to become a protection officer and completes the necessary training.

Mandatory Participation

This compulsory aspect has caused concern among Democrats and some Republicans, who fear it undermines local autonomy. Democratic Delegate Joey Garcia argued that school boards should retain the freedom to decide, rather than being compelled by the Legislature.

Autonomy on the Line

Echoing this sentiment, Republican Delegate Dana Ferrell from Kanawha County, with a background in education, highlighted the importance of local choice, suggesting that dissatisfied constituents have the option to vote out school board members.

“If people aren’t happy, they can vote them out,” Ferrell pointed out.

Ensuring Protection Across All Schools

Republican Delegate Todd Kirby raised a point about the necessity of mandating the program, suggesting that if left optional, school boards might not adopt it.

A Safety Net for Schools?

Delegate Doug Smith of Mercer, the principal sponsor of the bill, emphasized its role as a vital safety measure for protecting students in the event of a mass shooting. “It’s not if, it’s when … because it will happen someday,” Smith asserted.

Rigorous Training

He elaborated, “This bill does not advocate for arming every teacher. It proposes a carefully planned and voluntary program where willing educators undergo practical training in firearms and crisis management. This ensures that only those who are well prepared and capable would carry a concealed weapon.”

The SPO Designation

Teachers and staff who wish to become School Protection Officers (SPOs) must apply to their county superintendents, showing a valid concealed carry permit and a training completion certificate from the West Virginia Justice and Community Services division within the Department of Homeland Security.

Schools’ Control over SPOs

Although county school systems have the authority to withdraw an SPO designation for any reason, the bill provides an appeals process within the same division. Even schools with existing prevention resource officers or school security officers can integrate SPOs.

Training Requirements and Funding

The bill also details specific training requirements for SPOs. To support this initiative, the Legislature is directed to allocate $5,000 to each participating county school system, covering the annual training costs for new and current SPOs.

The total funding, assuming all 55 counties participate, would amount to $275,000.