The Massachusetts Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a proposal opposing the arming teachers in schools.
The Massachusetts Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday in support of a proposal that opposes arming teachers in schools.
The vote follows President Donald Trump’s call to arm school teachers and to help provide them with “rigorous firearms training.”
The board’s discussion has centered around the appropriateness of teachers carrying guns and what kind of training would be involved.
Steven Wojnar, president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association said his organization does not support the arming of teachers.
"We don't want people handling firearms unless they're fully trained," Wojnar told board members.
Mass. Secretary of Education James Peyser told board members teachers would not be able to reach the level of training necessary for an active shooting situation.
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"Public safety officers will tell you that in order to be effective with a firearm in a situation like that, a crisis situation, you need training on an ongoing basis," Peyser. "Teachers are just never going to be that well-trained even if they are trained in a firearm, they’re not going to be trained in the kind of practices they need to be effective in those situations."
The resolution is a statement that reflects the beliefs of the board but has no legal power. However, board members hope it sends a strong message across Massachusetts and nationwide.
