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Gun safety in schools

Allowing public school teachers to carry or have access to firearms while on the job is controversial. Armed educators can save lives if schools are invaded by people bent on violence, say proponents of the idea.

Critics worry about gun accidents and “friendly-fire” mistakes by teachers who may not be thoroughly trained in handling firearms, as most law enforcement officers are.

Not everyone agrees regarding training, however. Ohio Supreme Court justices have been asked to settle a case on the subject.

Madison public schools in Butler County, north of Cincinnati, has a policy allowing some teachers and other staff members to be armed while at work. One requirement is that armed school employees must have 26 hours of firearms training. That is not enough, argued a group of parents who filed a lawsuit over the matter. They want armed teachers and other staff members to undergo the 728 hours of training mandated for law enforcement personnel.

About a year ago, a common pleas court judge ruled against the parents, noting teachers are not full-time law enforcement officers.

Later, however, an appeals court overruled the judge, siding with the parents. School district officials are appealing that decision to the state’s highest court. Among other things, they argue that law enforcement training costs $7,265 and requires 18 weeks to complete. That could make it impossible to provide armed school personnel as a safety backstop, the district contends.

Let us hope the high court takes the logical position that this question should not be an all-or-nothing affair. Clearly, armed educators do not require full law enforcement training. But is 26 hours enough?

Because the question will be addressed by the state’s highest court, it will have implications throughout Ohio. Justices should mandate that enough training — whatever that may be — is provided to ensure armed teachers and other school staff members provide protection, not a new hazard, to students.

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