Legislators urged to let school sta≠ carry guns
Gun supporters Wednesday urged lawmakers to approve a measure allowing school employees to carry concealed handguns on campus, but proponents of the bill expressed fears about the consequences.
“More guns equals more gun violence,” said the Rev. Wayne Laws, who spoke at a rally at the state Capitol prior to a hearing on the bill. “Why are Americans more likely to die by guns than are developing countries? This bill is a new twist on the same old bad idea. This is a pathway for opening up guns at schools.”
Despite a strong presence by opponents, several people spoke on behalf of the “Handgun Safety Training for School Employees” bill, including Rep. Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, who is a sponsor. Neville said Senate Bill 005 is primarily about school safety and training.
The measure would require school employees to have a concealed permit to carry and complete an approved training by the local school board or state charter school institute offered by local county sheriffs in order to carry.
Dan Murphy, operations director and lobbyist for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, said equipping more teachers with guns would help prevent and combat mass shootings at schools.
“We feel that somebody who acts out in a mass shooting doesn’t care about a ‘No Gun’ sign on the front door,” he said. “If a teacher is uncomfortable to carry, they don’t have to. But why don’t they give the teachers who do their proper training. The teachers are properly vetted to carry and I ask for a yes vote.”
Several family members whose loved ones were killed in mass shootings at places such as Sandy Hook, the Aurora theater and Columbine testified against the bill, all saying it was about more than just mass shootings.
Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was shot and killed at Columbine High School, thought the bill was not the right way to protect kids in schools. He said more counselors should be accessible for at-risk students who might be struggling with their mental health.
“Often, the presence of guns creates problems, and if we think adding more guns will solve this epidemic, we’re wrong,” he said. “This is not about mass shootings. This is about everyday shootings — domestic violence, the drunk ones and even mental health issues.
“I’ve wished for a lot of things, but having more guns in schools is not one of them.”