S Dakota bill allows teachers, staff to carry guns in school

Pierre (South Dakota), March 9: South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard on Friday signed a bill which would authorise public

districts to allow employees and volunteer guards to carry guns on the campus.

Daugaard, however, felt that not many would take advantage of the move and encourage teachers or community security men to carry arms for safety reasons. Those teachers and volunteers would have to undergo an intensive training programme as like police officers.

The Governor said the move would improve the safety situation in the premises.

The National Rifle Association proposed stationing of armed policemen on school campuses across the country to prevent a repeat of the horrific massacre at the Sand Hook elementary School in New Town in Connecticut last December. Several children were killed in the tragedy that shocked all, including the country's President, Barack Obama, who was in tears.

Although critics and advocates of gun control baled at the idea of allowing arms in schools, proponents of the South Dakota bill said the bill, although the first of its kind in the US, was not radical for many children in the state were trained to hunt and handle guns safely at a tender age.

Author of the latest bill Republican Scott Craig said he hoped that South Dakota would show that the move was a positive one. He termed the move as a proactive and preventive and hence safer.

OneIndia News