By Angela E. Rodriguez |Staff Writer|
Assemblyman Tom Donnelly is in support of Assembly Bill 202 (AB 202), which would allow educational funds to be directed for training teachers in proper firearm use.
This bill would permit teachers to carry firearms on campus and was introduced on Jan. 30.
“We have a moral obligation that the next Vicki Soto, who is faced with inexplicable evil, that she not be left defenseless,” said to Donnelly, referring to one of the Sandy Hook elementary school teachers killed.
AB 202 would permit teachers who are trained in the proper use of a firearm to carry hidden weapons without having to put their names on a list of those licensed to do so.
The new bill is also known as the “School Marshal Plan” and would allow teachers to keep weapons hidden at all times only if students are under threat of a school shooting like last December’s Sandy Hook Elementary attack.
According to ivn.us, Donnelly said, “Your child is going to be locked in a school, and the only one with a gun is the person who came there to kill more kids than got killed in the last tragedy so he can get his name on television and go down in history in his own mind.”
Many CSUSB students are not on the same side as Assemblyman Donnelly, believing that it would put more people in danger.
“Training teachers to use fire arms would only bring more danger to the students,” said student Rachel Mitchell. “Firearms should not be on campus and if they think firearms would protect students why not bring full-time security guards onto school campuses.”
The recent proposed bill would not make it necessary for all teachers to carry guns, but only those who volunteer.
AB 202 is open to all educators, including school administrators and janitors to participate as well.
“This is not about trying to bring more guns into schools,” said Donnelly in an interview. “This is about saying that when a teacher is faced with that moment of inexplicable evil, she can defend her life and the lives of the kids that she loves.”
The state would pay for all the training funds invested into this new bill. CSUSB students believe those funds should be directed towards education, not guns.
“I feel like this new bill is a risky thing; it is possible that teachers can take advantage of this privilege,” said student Kayla Snipes. “Or even worse, go postal one day and bring harm to everyone.”
According to the Gun Free Zone Act of 1995, school staff such as administrators and teachers are allowed to carry concealed firearms if the school permits.
Currently, the proposed bill is still under construction.
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