Bill to allow armed teachers passes Senate panel

The legislation was approved 5-3 on a party-line vote.

A measure expanding the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act to allow teachers to be armed on campus advanced through the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote Tuesday.

The legislation (SPB 7030) was approved 5-3 by the panel. The bill was modeled off recommendations from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created to study best security practices following the attack last year.

The panel’s recommendation that schools be given the option to arm teachers was met with mixed reaction.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chaired the panel, said the lack of available law enforcement personnel required the expansion of individuals allowed to carry weapons on campus in the event of an attack.

But other groups disagreed, including several on hand Monday.

Representatives from Moms Demand Action voiced concerns that having guns inside classrooms could put students at risk, especially if the students have the ability to get access to the gun. The League of Women Voters and Florida PTA also spoke out in opposition.

And the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) put out a statement condemning the committee after the measure was approved.

“Last year, Floridians made it clear that they overwhelmingly oppose the arming of teachers,” said FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo.

“It is beyond comprehension that one year later Republicans are forcing us to have this same discussion over again. This bill is dangerous and a threat to our students and teachers. As we approach the anniversary of the Parkland shooting, it is shameful that instead of honoring the victims Republicans are trying to put more guns in our schools.”

Republicans on the committee, including Committee Chair Manny Diaz, pointed out that the recommendation originated from the MSD Commission’s report.

And when several speakers voiced concern over teachers being given the task of defending students, Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley pushed back, pointing out that the bill merely gives teachers the option to undergo Guardian training and carry on campus.

“No educator is required to be a Guardian,” Baxley said. “No educator is required to carry any kind of defensive weapon. So no one has to do anything that — that is, one of the educators in this setting — except those people who are in a situation where they do feel charged with the responsibility and would like to be empowered to act.”

Still, Democratic Sen. Lori Berman pushed for caution before approving the measure.

“I do understand that no educator is asked or required to be a Guardian,” Berman said. “But I also understand that there’s no evidence that the program works. We haven’t seen the Guardian program where it’s been effective.”

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


6 comments

  • Tracy Basham

    February 13, 2019 at 11:18 am

    This is a TERRIBLE idea. The Senators that voted for this should be ASHAMED! VOTE THEM OUT!

  • Paul Phillips

    February 13, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    Teachers must demand to know which colleagues are armed at all times so they may avoid them.

    • Robert Flournoy

      February 13, 2019 at 2:01 pm

      Do you avoid every armed citizen?

    • Tracy

      February 13, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Agreed. I would not want my children in their class!

  • Mary Gressle

    February 16, 2019 at 11:37 am

    Why on earth does anyone thing this is a good idea? How can you even think for one instance that teachers, who already have so much on their plate with lesson planning and observations and teaching students and acting as nurse, parent, cheerleader, sounding board, mentor, coach, psychologist, crisis counselor, and trying to make sure that the 30-35 or more students that you have in class are learning whatever subject you are teaching. Why would you want to put one more thing on a teachers plate? I am one of those teachers, I do not feel that in a crisis situation that I would be able to fire a weapon and take out an armed criminal who has it in their mind to take out as many as possible. How much training do police officers receive and how much time to they have to practice in order to shoot a target, not in a high stress situation such as when an active shooter is on a school campus. It will be my job to keep my kiddos safe so they can go home to their parents and I will do that under any means possible, without the use of a firearm.
    Get it together politicians….this is one thing we DO NOT NEED IN THE CLASSROOM!!!!!

Comments are closed.


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