NewsOK member benefits

School gun bills need thoughtful review

The Oklahoman Editorial | Published: February 8, 2013 Comment on this article

NewsOK Related Articles

Some states emulating Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin's 2012 strategy on income taxes
02/08/2013 GOV. Mary Fallin opened the 2012 legislative session with a bold call to reform Oklahoma's income tax code by reducing the number of brackets, eliminating...
Wind project raising eco eyebrows
02/08/2013 A project to move energy from one part of the country to another is spawning controversy and environmental concerns. Vulnerable animal species such as the...

Legislation allowing the arming of school personnel who complete police-style training has gained committee approval. Such programs typically involve about 240 hours of training on firearms and other issues, far more than what's required for a concealed carry permit.

Several school administrators oppose the bill, but hundreds of teachers and other school personnel have reportedly signed up for free firearms courses.

One size won't fit all schools dealing with security challenges. And without funding for training, this particular discussion may be moot. We've cautioned against knee-jerk reactions, pro-gun or con, in the school security debate. We recognize that the issue raised by Lamb would also apply to armed guards.

What's most important is for lawmakers to be just as thoughtful in developing policies to protect children and bystanders as the Secret Service is protecting the president.

Page 2 of 2