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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 26 July 2022
Mississippi public schools can make their own gun policies

MICHAEL GOLDBERG the safety of students and
Associated Press/Report for staff alike," Ice said. "We
America need the adults in the room
JACKSON, Miss (AP) — to make evidence-based
Amid a series of mass shoot- policy decisions that will
ings in the U.S., Mississippi actually keep our children
education officials made safe, rather than making
clear that school districts decisions that will put more
in the state can make their guns in their classrooms
own rules for letting armed and put our kids at risk."
people with enhanced Erich Pratt, senior vice presi-
carry licenses onto school dent with Gun Owners of
property. America, said the group
Following killings at Uvalde's fully supports policies to al-
Robb Elementary School, low willing teachers, admin-
a July Fourth parade near istrators and support staff to
Chicago and an Indiana carry concealed weapons
mall, the Mississippi Board on school campuses.
of Education voted Thurs- "Not only will they serve as a
day to update a 1990 in- concrete deterrent against
ternal policy that prohib- those who consider acts of
ited anyone other than law evil, but should someone
enforcement from carrying still try to attack a school,
guns on public school cam- Paula Vanderford, chief accountability officer for the Mississippi Department of Education, left, these policies will help to
puses. listens to Erin Meyer, a special attorney general assigned to the department, presents a summary neutralize the threat and
on why the state should initiate a takeover process of the Jackson Public Schools to members of
Thursday's step removed the Commission on School Accreditation in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. mitigate any loss of life,"
language from the 1990 Associated Press Pratt said.
policy, which the depart- At an Indiana mall in July, a
ment said conflicted with The 2011 law allows individ- weapons policies. School closed to the public, but bystander shot and killed a
Mississippi's 2011 enhanced uals with enhanced carry districts can decide for a school concert, play or man carrying out a shoot-
conceal carry law. The de- licenses to carry guns on themselves whether or not sporting event is open to ing that claimed the lives of
partment also argued that public school campuses. employees who hold en- the public, Cook said. three people and wound-
the old policy "predates Enhanced licenses require hanced carry licenses can Patricia Ice, a volunteer ed two others. But it is rare
any notable school shoot- training and allow gun bring guns onto school with the Mississippi chapter in the U.S. for an active
ings." owners to carry in several property. of Moms Demand Action, shooter to be stopped in
"A school district may, in its places where those with School districts must also a gun reform organiza- such fashion. From 2000 to
discretion, prohibit or allow basic permits cannot. adopt policies that apply tion, urged school districts 2021, fewer than 3% of 433
its employees who hold en- At the boarding meeting, to non-employees. A 2013 to adopt policies that limit active attacks in the U.S.
hanced conceal carry li- Erin Meyer, the educa- state attorney general's firearms on campus. ended with a civilian firing
censes to possess weapons tion department's general opinion argued teachers or "Allowing teachers and back, according to the Ad-
at the school," said Jean counsel, said state law administrators can refuse to members of the public vanced Law Enforcement
Cook, director of commu- provides "local school dis- meet with armed people in to carry guns in our K-12 Rapid Response Train-
nication for the Mississippi tricts with the authority and a "non-public" school area. schools is a dangerous idea ing Center at Texas State
Department of Education. discretion to determine" its Mississippi K-12 schools are that will further jeopardize University.q

Police: Woman opened fire in Dallas airport; cop shot her

The woman was dropped cal hospital for treatment. couldn't discern what the
off at the airport at about "No other individuals were argument was about.
11 a.m., walked inside near injured in this event other An airport spokeswoman
the ticketing counters and than the suspect," Garcia said early Monday after-
then entered a bathroom, said. noon that airport opera-
Dallas police Chief Ed- He didn't release the wom- tions were suspended and
die Garcia said at a news an's name or speculate as would resume once po-
conference. She emerged to what her motive might lice finished investigating.
wearing a hooded sweat- have been. The Transporation Safety
shirt or some other cloth- "We wanted to ensure that Administration tweeted at
ing that she hadn't arrived our community knows that around 2 p.m. that normal
in, pulled a gun and fired this is not an active situa- security checkpoints had
several shots, apparently at tion," the chief said. resumed. The Federal Avia-
the ceiling, he said. Karen Warner told The Dal- tion Administration said that
"At this point, we don't las Morning News that she starting right after the shots
know where exactly the in- was checking in for her were fired, flights bound for
A traveler makes her way past emergency responders standing
outside the ticketing and check in area at Dallas Love Field in dividual was aiming," Gar- flight when she heard a Love Field were being held
Dallas, Monday, July 25, 2022. cia said. loud argument about 20 at their departure airports.
Associated Press An officer who was nearby feet (6 meters) behind her, Love Field, which serves as
shot the woman in her "low- followed by a gunshot. a hub for Southwest Airlines,
DALLAS (AP) — A 37-year- Love Field Airport on Mon- er extremities," wounding Then she started running. is one of two major airports
old woman fired several day before an officer shot her and enabling her to be "I heard about 10 more in the Dallas-Fort Worth
gunshots, apparently at and wounded her, authori- taken into custody, Garcia shots while I was running area. It is located just north
the ceiling, inside of Dallas' ties said. said. She was taken to a lo- away," said Warner, who of downtown Dallas.q