Lawmakers in Texas are considering a bill that would allow teachers to use deadly force against students.
The Teacher’s Protection Act, filed by Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van), would protect teachers from prosecution for killing students they believe are a threat to other students or anyone else on school grounds.
Teachers would also be permitted to kill students to protect school property under the measure, which would protect them from civil liability if they used deadly force against students.
Texas law currently allows educators to use reasonable force against students to be protected from disciplinary proceedings.
A lobbyist for the Association of Texas Professional Educators said the legislation doesn’t add any new protections for teachers that don’t already exist under the state’s self-defense laws.
“We understand he’s trying to carve out some liability protections, but we can’t see that the liability protection in that particular bill is any different than the protection that exists in law for a regular citizen,” said lobbyist Monty Exter.
Texas already permits teachers and other school employees to carry guns on campus.
