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Controversial bill passed to protect Florida schools

In a controversial effort to help prevent school shootings, Florida teachers can now carry guns in the classroom. Supporters of the Expanded Guardian Program believe that arming teachers will deter school violence since teachers will be able to defend their students with guns.

Florida legislators proposed letting more school personnel carry guns after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, which left 17 people dead.

Bill Husfelt, the Superintendent of Bay County Schools, says he supports the program and believes it will deter shooters.

“Everybody wants to know ‘How do we prevent it?’ How can we stop it? We don’t look at it as we want more guns, we look at it as we want more protection,” Husfelt said.

But critics say the Guardian Program could escalate school violence, introducing guns into conflicts that could be resolved peacefully. Others worry that the new Guardian Program lacks oversight, and the training teachers must go through is insufficient. Debbi Hixon, whose husband was the athletic director at Stoneman Douglas High School, says teachers should not be expected to engage in shootouts with armed assailants.

“Teachers should not be burdened whether they think they want to or not with the responsibility of worrying about carrying a firearm,” Hixon said.