Bill to Arm Teachers Makes Progress In Nebraska
Jose Nino
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Nebraska state Senator Tom Brewer has recently been pushing legislation to grant teachers and other members of school staff the ability to carry firearms in schools statewide for the purpose of classroom defense.
Per a report by the Associated Press, Brewer emphasized the special conditions in Nebraska, where many schools are located in rural areas marked by long response times from law enforcement officers, to make the case for the passage of this legislation. Brewer noted that teachers and staff could serve as immediate first responders and potentially save lives between the time a shooting occurs and police arrive at the scene.
On top of allowing teachers and staff to be armed for the purpose of defending classrooms, Brewer’s bill “would give local school boards the ability to allow off-duty law enforcement to carry guns onto school property.”
Further, the bill would fund the creation of detailed maps of the building and facilities of every school in Nebraska. These maps would subsequently be shared with law enforcement so they would be familiarized with the layout of facilities in the case that a shooting occurs.
According to a report by RAND, observed “as of January 1, 2021, 28 states allow schools to arm teachers or staff (not just trained guards or peace officers) in at least some cases or as part of a specific program.”
Having armed staff at schools is a no-brainer. Due to how these institutions are gun-free zones, many deranged criminals view them as prime targets for their heinous acts. It only makes sense to bring some semblance of deterrence to these institutions by allowing law-abiding citizens to arm themselves.
This element can secure schools and keep potential criminals at bay.
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