Arkansas school district buying guns for 20 teachers and staff
A school district in Arkansas is responding to last year's tragic school shooting in Connecticut by arming more than 20 teachers and other employees.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Clarksville School District was providing each participant with $1,100 to purchase a firearm and holster. In addition, the district planned to spend $50,000 for ammunition and training from the Nighthawk Custom Training Academy.
During training exercises, participants fire "airsoft" pellet guns at actual students wearing protective gear.
"There's pressure on you, because you're shooting real bullets if this actually happened," Clarksville High School Assistant Principal told the AP. "I was nervous to start, but once it started and I was going through what they had taught us, it just took over."
Not everyone in the district, however, thinks the plan is a good idea.
Arkansas Education Association President Donna Morey called the idea "awful."
"We just think educators should be in the business of educating students, not carrying a weapon," she said.
And Sherry Wommack is taking her son out of the Clarksville School District for his eighth grade year because she believes teachers should not be making life-or-death decisions.
"I think police officers are trained to make those decisions, not teachers," Wommack explained.
Watch this video from The Associated Press, broadcast July 30, 2013.