The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee has approved a bill that was introduced by Senator Don White that would allow teachers to carry firearms in school to protect their students.
Senate Bill 383 was approved by a 9-3 bipartisan vote and will now head to the floor of the Senate. The bill would give school boards the authority to allow school personnel to have access to firearms in school safety zones if the district establishes proper guidelines, provided those people are licensed to carry a concealed weapon and have met training requirements in the use and handling of firearms. Senator White said this would be a big help to school districts, especially in the rural areas, as teachers could become first responders and protect the students.
White said the bill was inspired by a proposal from Indiana High School teacher Mark Zilinskas, who was a vocal proponent of the issue with the Indiana School Board.
