
Texas lawmakers have proposed a bill that would pay school employees to carry weapons on campus.
Texas already allows teachers to be armed but this bill would actually introduce compensation. Employees would receive stipends of up to $25,000 per school year for being trained to carry a weapon on K-12 campuses and buses.
The bill called the “school sentinel” program, passed the state’s House of Representatives in a 125-21 vote. It also includes training on mental health and trauma-informed care.
The bill comes on the heels of several high-profile school shootings including the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last year. Several other conservative states have explored placing armed guards in schools or arming teachers. Critics say that “hardening” targets wouldn’t prevent school shootings and instead favor gun control measures.
[…] Texas considering paying teachers to carry weapons […]