JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The pro-gun group “Florida Carry” is requesting the Florida Senate pass emergency legislation to allow all public school teachers to bring their concealed firearms to the classrooms to use in their defense.
The idea is nothing new and, tragically, the timing of it isn’t either as gun legislation comes to the forefront of discussion following another mass shooting.
In response, Duval County School Board Member Scott Shine says Florida Carry needs to pump the breaks.
“I think what we have to consider is that the training to have a concealed weapons permit doesn’t really bring you to the level of law enforcement dealing with an active shooter situation,” said Shine.
He’s an instructor in shooting sports and a teacher of a local concealed weapons class.
“I’ve been doing this for about 15 years, even at my level I don’t feel comfortable confronting an active shooter in a school.”
He says change must happen after 17 innocent lives were taken in what’s supposed to be a safe setting.
“We are in a new reality so it wouldn’t be surprising if we saw that in the future
He says arming untrained teachers is too great a risk right now, but it’s something that should bve up for debate.
“How would a law enforcement office knows the teacher is not the shooter?”
On Saturday Shine sent a letter to Superintendent Patricia Willis offering alternative forms of security.
“Mace and pepper spray have a range of about 20 feet,” said Shine.
