West Virginia’s Republican-controlled House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to allow teachers and other school staff who undergo training to carry guns in K-12 public schools.

The bill, which now heads to the Senate, would allow teachers, administrators and support personnel with concealed carry permits to volunteer to bring a firearm into school with the intention of using it to defend the school in case of an active shooter event. Designated a “school protection officer,” the staffer wouldn’t receive any additional compensation for doing so.

Supporters say not every school system in West Virginia can afford to hire a full-time school resource officer. This program would provide another option.

Before the vote, Republican Del. Dave Foggin of Wood County, a physics teacher, said he can’t think of anything worse than shooting someone in his classroom. But he said if that person came into his school trying to hurt his students, he would do it.

  • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    He’s already completely ignored the “don’t let a potential mass shooter have a gun” option.

    It’s fucking infuriating that “more guns” is the only option that can get any traction.

    • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      He’s already completely ignored the “don’t let a potential mass shooter have a gun” option.

      That’s already not an option. There are more guns than people in the US. Guns have been so engrained into our culture for so long. You will no eradicate gun ownership in the US without starting a civil war

      • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        If only there were options other than “ban all guns” and “free guns for everyone”. I didn’t say eradicate gun ownership in my first comment.

        Gun ownership has been going down for years. The reason there are so many guns out there is people who own dozens or hundreds of firearms.