Almost two years after a tragic school shooting that killed 10 and injured 13, teachers in Texas’ Santa Fe Independent School District will be able to carry guns on district grounds.
Santa Fe ISD officials announced that specific employees, upon approval of local school boards, can voluntarily carry weapons on their persons on campus, as part of the state’s “Guardian Program.”
Beginning on Mar. 16, when Santa Fe students and staff return from spring break, signs will be placed around school buildings indicating that personnel on campus may be armed, according to the statement. This implementation is not expected to have an additional impact on students, staff, or their everyday routine.
To qualify for Guardian Program, the volunteering teacher must own a Texas-issued license to carry a gun. The volunteer also has to go through criminal background screening and psychological evaluations using the same process and standards as those who apply to be police officers. Once accepted, the participant will be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of training and meet the same marksmanship standards as a Santa Fe ISD police officer.
The district said to maintain the integrity of the program; it would not make public who or how many are participating.
“I understand the other side that does not want more guns in the schools,” said the mass shooting survivor. “But I just know from my personal experience and what happened to me, [the Guardian Plan] could have made a difference in the outcome.”
“We’re not creating programs where we’re going to have people out there acting as first responders,” School board President Rusty Norman told Texas Tribune. “This is just another layer as a last line of defense if something gets past all of those other layers and becomes an issue in a classroom or hallway or one of the school facilities, that someone may be there that could protect themselves along with all the students and staff that are around them.”
