In Ohio, More Teachers Are Arming Themselves to Protect Students

By Jenn Jacques

Potential school shooters in Ohio may think twice before stepping foot into a classroom with a gun. Over the past four years, an increasing number of school districts in The Buckeye State have authorized teachers, staff and faculty members to carry firearms.

“Five years ago we probably wouldn’t have considered it, and even three or two years ago I would still have been saying this is not the direction we want to go,” said David Hire, Superintendent of Coshocton City Schools, who hopes to have armed staff members in his schools by year end. “But we’re living in a society where this is becoming almost weekly or every other week where there is some event somewhere around the country.”

The individual school policies allowing staff to carry are legally permitted to remain secret, leaving some parents and all potential shooters unaware of which schools allow armed teachers or which teachers may be armed.

In June, the Zanesville City Schools District passed a concealed firearms policy during a public meeting while a neighboring district to the east, East Muskingum Local Schools, parents and students aren’t sure if teachers in their district are armed.

“As protected by the law, school safety plans are not public …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms