A measure expanding the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act to allow teachers to be armed on campus advanced through the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote Tuesday.
The legislation (SPB 7030) was approved 5-3 by the panel. The bill was modeled off recommendations from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created to study best security practices following the attack last year.
The panel’s recommendation that schools be given the option to arm teachers was met with mixed reaction.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who chaired the panel, said the lack of available law enforcement personnel required the expansion of individuals allowed to carry weapons on campus in the event of an attack.
But other groups disagreed, including several on hand Monday.
Representatives from Moms Demand Action voiced concerns that having guns inside classrooms could put students at risk, especially if the students have the ability to get access to the gun. The League of Women Voters and Florida PTA also…
