A South Carolina state lawmaker announced Monday he would hold a drawing to give away two handguns to local teachers as part of a push to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools.
In an announcement on his website, Rep. Steven Long (R) said he would hold a drawing to give away three guns: one to a K-12 teacher, school staff member or administrator; one to a college or university faculty/staff member or administrator; and one to “any freedom-loving patriot who wishes to participate in the drawing.”
“We must do everything we can to ensure the safety of children in schools, both K-12 and our higher education institutions. Allowing teachers or school staff members to carry is the most efficient and most effective way to do this,” Long said.
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The teachers who win the drawing will receive a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, as well as a gift certificate to attend classes in order to receive their concealed carry permit, he said.
Long announced the creation of a donation page to raise funds for the drawing, and said any extra funds would be donated to South Carolina Carry, “an organization that promotes pro-Second Amendment policies and firearms education.”
“This is entirely voluntary. We aren’t forcing teachers who don’t feel comfortable with a gun to carry,” Long said in the statement. “Not every teacher will want to carry or needs to carry, but for those who are willing and able, we need to allow them this protection. I’m open to a discussion regarding the specifics of a program that allows teachers to carry, but it is undeniable that we must take action on this issue.”
Long also reaffirmed his support for President Trump’s proposal to give teachers bonuses if they carry concealed weapons.
“I think that’s a terrific idea,” Long said. “I’d love to see how we could make that happen.”
During a listening session at the White House last week with survivors and families of the victims of school shootings, one parent brought up the controversial idea of arming teachers and administrators with concealed guns, which Trump said is “certainly a point we will discuss.”
“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, that could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said.
“We’re going to be looking at that very strongly. And I think a lot of people are going to be opposed to it. I think a lot of people are going to like it.”
Trump defended his proposal in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, saying that a teacher would have “shot the hell out of” the gunman who opened fire at a Florida high school earlier this month, killing 17 people.
The suggestion to arm teachers has been met with widespread backlash from both Republicans and Democrats.
A group of teachers took to social media last week to create the Twitter hashtag #ArmMeWith, calling on lawmakers to provide teachers with better school supplies and funding for mental health resources rather than firearm training.