The lower chamber of the Indiana General Assembly has approved a bill allowing for state-funded handgun training for teachers and school staff.
Indiana House Republicans were able to pass House Bill 1177 on Feb. 21, which would fund handgun training for teachers to protect their classrooms and students. The bill passed the House with a 71–24 vote along party lines.
The legislation now heads to the state Senate for consideration.Critics claim that the bill will only encourage more guns in classrooms across the state and create more violence.
Indiana state law currently permits school districts to allow their teachers and staff to be armed, but no specific firearms training is required or has been funded by the state.
So far, only a few Indiana school districts allow teachers to carry firearms in the classrooms.
