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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 22 November 2018

Sheriff supports armed teachers to stop school shooters

By TERRY SPENCER Other members of Gualt-
Associated Press ieri's commission, including
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Polk County Sheriff Grady
— The sheriff leading the Judd, have expressed sup-
state commission investi- port for arming teachers,
gating Florida's high school although it is unclear if a
massacre says he now be- majority agrees.
lieves trained, volunteer The 15 panel members ap-
teachers should have ac- pointed by Gov. Rick Scott
cess to guns so they can and legislative leaders in-
stop shooters who get past clude law enforcement,
other safeguards. education and mental
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob health professionals, a leg-
Gualtieri, chairman of the islator and the fathers of
Marjory Stoneman Douglas two slain students.
High School Public Safety The panel, which has been
Commission, said he will ask meeting periodically since
the panel to recommend April, must file its initial re-
state law be changed so port to Scott, incoming
teachers who undergo Gov. Ron DeSantis and
background checks and the Legislature by Jan. 1.
extensive training will be It will consider proposals
allowed to have guns on for adoption at its mid-De-
campus as a last line of de- cember meeting.
fense. It's a proposal that Other proposed recom-
both the state teachers In this June 7, 2018 file photo Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission mendations include pre-
chair and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri gestures as he speaks during a commission
union and PTA oppose. meeting in Sunrise, Fla. venting outside attacks
Gualtieri told The Associat- Associated Press by limiting and staffing en-
ed Press this week he long trances; allowing all school
believed only law enforce- Meanwhile, video shows and arm employees other Both the Florida Education employees to order a lock-
ment personnel should the Broward County sher- than teachers, including Association, which is the down; improving campus
carry guns at school, but iff's deputy assigned to the administrators, librarians state teachers union, and communication systems;
his position "morphed" af- school drew his gun but and custodians. Teachers the Florida PTA oppose and tightening laws gov-
ter studying other shootings stayed outside. By the time are barred unless they are arming teachers, saying erning the assessment of
and watching security vid- other law enforcement ar- former or current police having more guns on cam- students who may pose
eo of the Feb. 14 Stoneman rived, the final fatal shots officers, current members pus will make schools more a threat. For law enforce-
Douglas attack, which left had been fired. of the military or Junior Re- dangerous, not less. ment, the proposals include
14 students and three staff "We know from the history serve Officer Training Corps "Teachers should not be giving officers clear orders
members dead. of these things that the ma- instructors. Thirteen of the acting as armed security that they must confront ac-
He said it "gnaws" at him jority are stopped by school state's 67 countywide dis- guards. The majority of our tive shooters, even if they
that suspect Nikolas Cruz personnel," Gualtieri said, tricts adopted the pro- members don't want to are alone, and making
stopped firing five times to pointing to shootings where gram, mostly in rural parts be armed — they know it sure first responders from
reload his AR-15 semi-auto- the gunman was tackled or of the state. would be impractical and different agencies have
matic rifle, but no teacher disarmed by a teacher or Currently, teachers in 28 dangerous," union spokes- radios that can quickly be
or other school employee campus employee. "Peo- states can carry firearms, woman Joni Branch said. programmed to communi-
could use those pauses ple need to keep an open according to the Crime Angie Gallo, the state PTA's cate with each other.
to shoot Cruz. The athlet- mind to it as the reality is Prevention Research Cen- legislation chair, said only Cruz, now 20, has pleaded
ic director and a coach, that if someone else in that ter, a conservative non- law enforcement should not guilty, but his lawyers
both unarmed, died trying school had a gun it could profit organization. carry guns on campus. have said he would plead
to stop Cruz and at least have saved kids' lives." District approval is required "Teachers need to teach," guilty in exchange for a life
one teacher minutes later After the shooting, Florida in most states and restric- Gallo said. "Their job is not sentence.
would have had a clear law was changed to al- tions and training require- to secure our schools. It is Prosecutors are seeking the
shot. low school districts to train ments vary. not to shoot at shooters." death penalty.q