The Florida Senate passed a “school safety” bill Tuesday that would allow teachers to voluntarily pack heat on campus if local school boards agree — a move prompted by the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
The measure was approved in a 22-17 vote mostly along party lines, almost guaranteeing it will be signed into the law despite efforts by student activists to derail it, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
The bill now heads to the House, where it has solid support, and GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he would sign it.
Teachers would not automatically be allowed to carry guns because local school boards would have to authorize it.
And many South Florida school officials have resisted arming teachers or other school employees.
In districts that want to participate, staffers who want to carry weapons would be required to pass a psychological evaluation and complete at least 144 hours of training, the paper reported.
Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, said teachers already have to serve as social workers and counselors because of society’s problems, and that providing armed security shouldn’t be their responsibility.
“What we are telling teachers [is] if you want protection for you and your children then you do it yourself,” he said.
But supporters said the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 students and staff dead in February 2018 was over in about four minutes, and districts should have the power to arm staffers. An armed teacher might have been able to stop the shooter, said Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater.
“I must err on the side of saving a kid,” he said.