A disaster waiting to happen:
Teachers and other school staff could obtain a professional permit to carry guns on school grounds under a Republican-backed bill that passed the Iowa House Wednesday night after a tense debate.
House lawmakers voted 61-34 to pass House File 2586 Wednesday night. The bill would also require the state's largest districts to employ security officers or school resource officers in high school buildings unless the district's school board votes against it.
Private schools, as well as colleges and universities, would also be allowed to arm staff.
Lawmakers shared emotional stories on the House floor, recalling recent school shootings in Iowa and instances when they'd been notified that their children's schools had gone into lockdown.
POLITICS
Des Moines Register
Teachers and other school staff could obtain a professional permit to carry guns on school grounds under a Republican-backed bill that passed the Iowa House Wednesday night after a tense debate.
House lawmakers voted 61-34 to pass House File 2586 Wednesday night. The bill would also require the state's largest districts to employ security officers or school resource officers in high school buildings unless the district's school board votes against it.
Private schools, as well as colleges and universities, would also be allowed to arm staff.
Lawmakers shared emotional stories on the House floor, recalling recent school shootings in Iowa and instances when they'd been notified that their children's schools had gone into lockdown.
"This bill sets a very high standard," Thompson said. "Because we’re talking about the safety of our children, the bar must be high. We recognize that this responsibility must be taken very seriously."
Democrats and those opposed to the measure say more armed personnel won't make students safer, raising concerns about lacking mental health resources and school security infrastructure while blasting Republicans' priorities on the issue.
Republicans proposed the legislation weeks after a shooter who was a student at Perry High School killed sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and principal Dan Marburger and wounded half a dozen others. Supporters have touted the measure as a key step in preventing future shootings and upping security in Iowa schools.
The bill's floor manager, Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, outlined the training that school employees would have to complete in order to obtain a permit to carry a weapon on school grounds.
Teachers and other school staff could obtain a professional permit to carry guns on school grounds under a Republican-backed bill that passed the Iowa House Wednesday night after a tense debate.
House lawmakers voted 61-34 to pass House File 2586 Wednesday night. The bill would also require the state's largest districts to employ security officers or school resource officers in high school buildings unless the district's school board votes against it.
Private schools, as well as colleges and universities, would also be allowed to arm staff.
Lawmakers shared emotional stories on the House floor, recalling recent school shootings in Iowa and instances when they'd been notified that their children's schools had gone into lockdown.
POLITICS
Iowa GOP moves closer to arming school staff and giving them legal immunity in shootings
Galen Bacharier Stephen Gruber-MillerDes Moines Register
Teachers and other school staff could obtain a professional permit to carry guns on school grounds under a Republican-backed bill that passed the Iowa House Wednesday night after a tense debate.
House lawmakers voted 61-34 to pass House File 2586 Wednesday night. The bill would also require the state's largest districts to employ security officers or school resource officers in high school buildings unless the district's school board votes against it.
Private schools, as well as colleges and universities, would also be allowed to arm staff.
Lawmakers shared emotional stories on the House floor, recalling recent school shootings in Iowa and instances when they'd been notified that their children's schools had gone into lockdown.
"This bill sets a very high standard," Thompson said. "Because we’re talking about the safety of our children, the bar must be high. We recognize that this responsibility must be taken very seriously."
Democrats and those opposed to the measure say more armed personnel won't make students safer, raising concerns about lacking mental health resources and school security infrastructure while blasting Republicans' priorities on the issue.
Iowa Republicans move closer to arming school staff and giving them legal immunity in shootings
School staff could obtain a permit to carry weapons in Iowa schools and would be provided legal protections under a bill passed the House on Wednesday.
www.press-citizen.com
Republicans proposed the legislation weeks after a shooter who was a student at Perry High School killed sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and principal Dan Marburger and wounded half a dozen others. Supporters have touted the measure as a key step in preventing future shootings and upping security in Iowa schools.
The bill's floor manager, Rep. Phil Thompson, R-Boone, outlined the training that school employees would have to complete in order to obtain a permit to carry a weapon on school grounds.