Teacher Gun Carry Possible Through Revised Bill

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) – It could happen here. Teachers in Mississippi could be allowed to carry guns on school campuses.

Just this morning, members of a Senate Judiciary Committee made changes to House Bill 1083.

These changes, if approved, would allow Mississippi teachers to carry guns with 12 hours of training every two years.

Public and private schools are included in the language.

Chairman Briggs Hopson says the bill in in response to recent school shootings.

Hopson’s measure also amends an underlying House bill to bar people with enhanced concealed carry permits from carrying guns into athletic events. That measure would allow people to challenge other gun restrictions.

The Mississippi Association of Educators responded in their own press release. Read it below:

MAE STATEMENT ON SENATE VOTE
TO ARM TEACHERS

“Today, HB 1083 was voted out of the Senate Judiciary A Committee with an amendment allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons into the schools. Having more guns in schools is not the answer to school safety. In fact, it is the opposite of making schools safer. The Mississippi Association of Educators vehemently opposes any measure to arm teachers. The role of teachers is to educate our children, not to act as armed guards. This should be left to professional law enforcement, who are skillfully trained for more than 12 hours, which is all the Senate Amendment currently mandates for teachers. We should let the teachers teach, and let trained law enforcement personnel provide protection to our children, teachers, and school administrators. Teachers are already charged with so many responsibilities outside their roles as educators — the idea that they should now be asked to serve as armed guards is ridiculous.”

Thank you,

JOYCE HELMICK, MAE President