Oklahoma Lawmakers Advance Bill Loosening Requirements For Teachers To Be Armed

A bill moving through the state legislature would allow more teachers to legally carry firearms at school.

Currently, school boards can authorize teachers with a security guard license or CLEET certification to be armed on campus.

Under the new bill, a teacher would only be required to have a valid concealed handgun license.

"If you were more educated about weapons and weapon safety, you'd know that the more weapons we have in a classroom, the better we're able to protect those kids," Rep. Kevin McDugle remarked.

"Districts can already allow teachers to be armed in classrooms. This is not solving that problem. This just changes the amount of training we expect those teachers to have," said Rep. Andy Fugate.

The bill passed in the house Tuesday morning and is headed to the senate.