In Indiana, schools and school corporations can allow staff to carry a handgun on the premises if they choose. To help make sure teachers and staff who choose to carry have the training and skills necessary to respond to a threat, I successfully authored a bill to create a standardized professional training program.
After working with law enforcement and other public safety officials, this legislation would allow public, private and charter schools to enroll interested teachers and staff into a 40-hour training course to learn the basics of firearm safety and usage. If signed into law, our school staff members could opt-in and learn about handling, carrying, maintaining, caring for and storing firearms, how to maintain and care for a firearm, and various types of marksmanship training and scenario-based courses.
As a veteran and someone with years of experience handling and using firearms, I know these courses can make all the difference in building confidence and skills, and improving your ability to respond to threats. By giving teachers and staff another tool to protect themselves, we can better harden our school security.
These courses would not only educate participants on the firearms themselves, but also discuss the different psychological and emotional responses one may have during and after a high-stress scenario. Under this bill, the state would also provide funding to provide counseling for students, teachers and staff members if a horrific tragedy like a school shooting incident occurs.
This legislation, which now heads to the governor's desk to be considered as a new law, builds on Indiana's ongoing effort to protect our schools. Since 2013, through the Secured Schools Safety Grant Program more than $133 million has been awarded to school districts to make security updates. In our area, 13 schools have received more than $700,000 in the latest round of grant awards.
This bill is commonsense as it helps equip teachers and school staff with every resource available to keep them and their students safe. To learn more House Enrolled Act 1177, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) represents House District 69,
which includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Washington counties.
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