Overview

• Georgia Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, has endorsed a bill currently under consideration in the state legislature that proposes to pay teachers $10,000 annually to carry firearms in school, arguing it would enhance school safety.
• The bill, introduced by Republican State Senator Clint Dixon, would require teachers to undergo firearms training and carry a gun in school, with regional school boards having the ultimate say whether to authorize the training program and employee participation.
• While more than a dozen U.S. states permit the practice of arming teachers, the proposal has faced opposition from various quarters including teachers' unions, with Georgia Association of Educators president Lisa Morgan asserting teachers are not law enforcement personnel.
• Critics of the bill argue it could make school environments more dangerous, highlighting the individual decision-making component when faced with a real-life threat, despite having undergone firearm-training courses.
• Despite the opposition, there is some support for the bill, including from teachers who believe the proposal would improve school safety if implemented properly and in the hands of the right educators.