Sarasota Rep. Greg Steube files bill that allows principles to choose staff who can carry guns

While President Obama has promoted tighter gun control laws following tragedies like the Newton Elementary school shooting massacre, Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, has filed a bill to arm teachers with guns.

Last Wednesday, Steube filed the HB 1097 School Safety Bill, which asks for schools’ principles or district superintendents to identify which teachers and staff can carry a concealed weapon on school grounds.

The law would provide “…exception to prohibition on possession of firearms or other specified devices on school property or other specified areas for authorized concealed weapon or firearm licensees as designated by school principals or district superintendents,” according to the bill on myfloridahouse.gov .

The bill would require district school boards to commission school safety officer on each school campus in the school district unless the school principal for that campus has designated  a concealed weapon or firearm licensee to carry firearms on school property, while performing school duties under specified provision.

News 4 in Jacksonville reports Steube said the risk of students getting hold of the weapons is miniscule because anyone approved to carry a concealed weapon would be mandated to complete firearms training.

The representative says he has received support, but there are school administrators who aren't backing the “armed teachers” plan.

"Our members are saying they would rather not have that, that they’d rather have other security measures put in place," said Michele White, a spokeswoman for the Florida Association of School Administrators.

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