Utah passes bill to encourage teachers to carry guns and defend their classrooms against school shooters

Utah has passed a controversial bill to 'incentivize' teachers to carry guns and train them to use them in a school shooter scenario. 

If Gov Spencer Cox signs it into law, House Bill 119 will establish the Educator-Protector Program which would fund programs to train teachers to defend their classrooms in an attack. 

The measure will cost the state about $100,000 annually and would train license-holding teachers to safely store, carry, load and unload firearms in a school setting.

The bill received final legislative approval last week when the Republican-controlled House voted along party lines to send it to the governor's desk. 

Some teachers have lauded the program but campaigners have slammed the bill, branding it 'unrealistic and potentially dangerous'. 

Brian Peterson of Lake Ridge Elementary School in Magna, said the training is 'invaluable' and is 'what teachers need.' 

House Bill 119 will establish the Educator-Protector Program which would fund programs to train teachers to defend their classrooms in an attack

Timpanogos Academy secretary, participates in shooting drills at the Utah County Sheriff's Office shooting range during the teacher's academy training in 2019

Gov Cox, a Republican, has not yet said whether he will sign the bill, but told reporters on Friday that he is 'very worried about school safety' and supports arming and training school staff so they can 'respond very quickly if the worst does happen.'

Under the measure, teachers who hold a valid concealed carry permit could participate for free in an annual program training them to defend their classrooms against active threats.

The program would cost the Department of Public Safety about $100,000 annually, according to the bill, and begin May 1 if signed into law. 

County sheriffs would appoint instructors to lead the course, which participating teachers would be expected to retake each year.

The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Tim Jimenez, said it is a 'strictly defensive' measure that will benefit teachers who already own firearms but cannot afford tactical training.

He said: 'What we're looking at here isn't having teachers running around the hallways trying to act like police officers.' 

Utah is one of 16 states that allow school employees to carry guns in K-12 schools. 

State law currently lets people carry firearms on public school property if they have permission from school administrators or hold a concealed firearm permit.

The bill doesn't prevent a teacher with a permit who is not involved in the program from carrying a gun on school grounds. 

But those who participate will be shielded from civil liability if they use the gun at school while 'acting in good faith' and without gross negligence, according to the bill. School districts also cannot be held liable if a participating teacher fires their weapon.

But not everyone supports the bill. 

The Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah told DailyMail.com: 'We disagree with money being taken from our education fund to support gun training. 

'Our teachers need every penny of that money for education. We encourage every gun owner to get ongoing training, but it shouldn't come out of Utah's education funding. 

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has not yet said if he will sign the bill into law

Spokesperson for the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah, Nancy Halden, hugs Nia Maile, who spoke about losing her two brothers to gun violence

'Additionally, the amount of training offered in this program is wholly inadequate to prepare teachers for an encounter with an active shooter. It doesn't even offer live fire training. 

'Law enforcement trains monthly with simulated high stress situations, and even they sometimes struggle to be effective in these incidents. 

'The idea of a ''highly trained'' armed teacher is a myth. Expecting teachers with significantly less training to respond to violent incidents effectively is unrealistic and potentially dangerous.'

For Nia Maile, a 23-year-old from West Valley City whose brothers were killed in a 2022 shooting outside Hunter High School, said the possibility of more guns in Utah classrooms is a terrifying thought. 

She worries the bill might give a troubled kid, like the 14-year-old who shot her brothers, easier access to a firearm.

'We do not need more guns in schools. We need to eliminate the ways and reasons for a kid to become a shooter.'