INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - A controversial bill on training teachers who carry firearms to school died at the statehouse.
As News 18 previously reported, Wednesday was the last day for bills to make it through the 2019 Legislative Session.
House Bill 1253 would have required any Indiana teacher who carries a firearm on a school campus to have a minimum level of training.
It would have included personality screening and 40 hours of training. Currently, it is up to the individual school districts if they allow teachers to carry.
State Representative Sheila Klinker said many schools in Tippecanoe County are lucky to have school resource officers.
"Not every small school corporation is able to do that unfortunately and there are some teachers who are willing to be trained, or have already been trained," she said.
This bill would have put money aside for the training, which would have cost about $1,000. While many teachers Rep. Klinker has talked to say they don't want the training, she said it would be good to have the option open. Especially for any teachers who are ex-military, ex-police, or have had other kinds of professional firearm training.
"I don't think you should force them to be trained, I think that if you are a teacher who has been trained, which many have been, or want to be trained, that's fine," she said.
The Indiana State Teachers Association remained against the bill.
