A contentious proposal that would let designated teachers bring their guns to school suffered a serious setback Tuesday when a Senate panel declined to vote on it.
Because the Senate Education Committee won’t meet again, the bill (SB 180) won’t have another opportunity for a committee hearing. It could still be incorporated into another proposal, but Senate Education Committee Chairman John Legg said he would raise strong objections.
“It would be a large lift knowing that the Education Committee [deferred] it,” the Trinity Republican said.
Legg said he has “significant concerns” with the bill, which would allow school employees with law enforcement or military experience to carry concealed weapons on school property.
“Deputizing private citizens to protect a school is not an avenue I want to go down,” he said.
Both the Senate and House are considering a separate proposal that would allow permitted individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses (SB 176/ HB 4005).
The so-called campus carry bill has found support in both chambers. Legg says he supports the proposal because it is about “individual protection.”
