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Training Texas School Employees to be Armed

KUT News

An effort intended to stop a shooter at a public school got a hearing Tuesday at the Texas Capitol. It’s a measure that would train school employees in gun use.

Under the bill from Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) a public or charter school with no armed security guard or school resource officer would get firearms instruction for two school employees.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw was asked to help develop a training plan.

“It’s our assessment that there are not enough police officers in the State of Texas to protect 4.5 million children at 9,239 different school sites. Tragically, that’s the case. If you look at the case studies, there’s not enough time, there’s not enough police officers to get there," said McCraw, who envisions a 16-hour training course on top of the training received by Texas Concealed Handgun License holders.

The training would come from CHL instructors who get their training from DPS.

Trey Shaar is an All Things Considered producer, reporter and host. Got a tip? Email him at tshaar@kut.org. Follow him on Twitter @treyshaar.
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