Marjory Stoneman Douglas Commission recommends arming more teachers

The group investigating the Parkland shooting says teachers should be able to carry their guns in the classroom.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission voted 13-1 in favor of making the recommendation to state lawmakers and the governor.

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This would be an expansion of the controversial law that requires all Florida schools to have armed employees on campus.

Under the proposal, teachers who have concealed-weapons permits --- would be able to get extra training and bring their guns to school.

Commissioners argued the current law, passed earlier this year, doesn’t go far enough.

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“There’s simply not enough cops to go around,” said Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County Sheriff. “If there are not enough cops to go around, the best way to comply with that is to use the law to its maximum.”

Some Florida districts now arm non-teaching staff members such as principals, librarians and custodians, but most of the state’s other districts have trained “school safety assistants,” or school resource officers.

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Some argue even the current level of armed employees is a problem waiting to happen.

Last month a group of parents sued DCPS, claiming its school safety assistants are “inadequately trained.”

Cox Media Group