Bill would OK gun training for school employees

A bill that recently advanced in the state Senate would allow teachers and other public school employees who have the proper permit to carry a handgun on campus after completing safety training.

The legislation is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Parker, and House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock. It would allow a county sheriff to provide a safety-training course to any employee of any public elementary, middle, junior high or high school who has a permit to carry a concealed handgun, a summary of the bill says. Once that training is completed, the employee would be permitted to carry the handgun on campus.

Senate Bill 17-005 was approved by a 3-2 vote Jan. 24 by the Senate Committee on State, Veterans & Military Affairs and is likely to be considered by the full Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, next week. If it passes the Senate, it will face an unphill battle in the Democrat-controlled House.

Holbert noted that in rural areas of the state, where school districts have less access to law enforcement resources, teachers and staff are hired to be armed security with no training required.

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