Florida school board unanimously votes to oppose arming teachers

The Hillsborough County School Board in Florida on Tuesday unanimously opposed a motion to arm school employees, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

“I feel like we need to take a stand with our students, families and teachers,” board member Cindy Stuart said, according to the Times. “It is wrong arming anyone other than law enforcement on our campus.”

{mosads}The resolution said the district won’t participate in a program allowing teachers and other school employees to carry concealed weapons if the state legislature approves it. It also calls on the state to increase funding for mental health services and to stop cutting education funding.

The Hillsborough County School Board encompasses Tampa.

The Florida state Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would authorize the arming of some teachers, as well as place new restrictions on rifle sales, following the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead and 14 people injured.

The state’s House of Representatives has not taken up its own version of the legislation. 

President Trump has thrown his support behind legislation to allow trained teachers to carry concealed weapons and has suggested giving bonuses to teachers who go through with the training.

The suggestion to arm teachers has been met with widespread backlash from both Republicans and Democrats.