Democrats on Education Committee: ‘Educators need resources, not revolvers’

The Indiana House Education Committee today considered legislation that would provide firearms training to school personnel. House Bill 1177 serves as the gun lobby and Republican lawmakers' response to a decade of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings, a coordinated campaign to put more guns in schools as opposed to decreasing the threats to students and school staff through resources and commonsense proposals. 

Democrats on the education committee stand with a majority of Americans that support increased school safety measures that don’t include arming educators and staff. Ranking Democrat of the Indiana House Education Committee Vernon Smith (D-Gary), State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) and State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) voted against the proposal. HB 1177 ultimately advanced out of committee and now heads to the full House for consideration. 

“Educators need more resources, not revolvers,” Democrats on the Indiana House Education Committee said. “Lawmakers pushing haphazard measures to arm teachers seek to entertain the gun lobby while failing to prevent the next mass shooting. Reactive policy making is not going to ensure that children and educators return home safely after the school day concludes. A ‘good guy with a gun’ rarely saves lives during an active shooter situation. On the contrary, it poses the risk of more people being killed or injured. 

“Educators and parents alike oppose arming school staff. House Bill 1177 is a reckless measure that puts the responsibility of a school’s safety on individual educators, instead of the elected officials in these hallways. House Democrats are ready to engage with our colleagues across the aisle to provide real safety proposals and meaningful resources. This bill is not that.”