Georgia is among the states that permit teachers to carry guns in school, if a local school board permits it. Until last month, none did but the Laurens County school board has approved a plan for certain personnel to be trained and bring guns into schools.
Here is a list of the varying school gun regulations by state. It was compiled by the Crime Prevention Research Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to research on the relationship between laws regulating the ownership or use of guns, crime, and public safety. It does not accept donations from gun or ammunition makers or organizations such as the NRA or any other organizations involved in the gun control debate on either side of the issue.
Here is its list:
Alabama (which bans possessing a weapon on school grounds only if the carrier has “intent to do bodily harm”)
Arkansas (with approval of the superintendent) — February 26, 2018. Teachers in 20 schools allowed to carry concealed handgun.
California had allowed concealed carry on school grounds until it passed a law in 2015 that required the approval of the school administrator. On October 14, 2017 a new law took away that authority from school administrators. Up until that date, five school districts allowed teachers or staff to carry concealed handguns.
Colorado (with approval of school board — Hanover School District, Fleming School District and Briggsdale School District)
Connecticut (with approval of school officials)
Georgia (with school board approval)
Hawaii (no specific law)
Idaho (with school trustees’ approval) some school districts allow staffers and teachers to carry
Indiana (2013 law that lets school boards decide)
Iowa (with authorization) — no district currently allows.
Kansas (school districts may allow employees with concealed-carry permits to carry guns on campus if the district does not have a policy prohibiting it)
Kentucky (with school board approval) Example: Pike County School District
Massachusetts (with approval of the school board or principal)
Michigan (as long as the gun is carried openly)
Minnesota (with approval of School Superintendent) — some do it
Mississippi (with school board approval)
Missouri (with school board approval) Crocker School Board has approved it
Montana (with school trustees’ permission) — In 2017, Belfry, Custer, and Lima school districts allowed teachers and staff members to carry. Another school district allowed a former teacher to carry. Two others allow current staff members to carry, but they weren’t currently carrying.
New Hampshire (ban applies only to pupils, not adults)
New Jersey (with approval from the school’s governing officer)
New York (with the school’s approval)
Ohio (with school board approval) — in 2015, at least 40 school districts in Ohio allow teachers to carry permitted concealed handguns. Right now there are reportedly over 100 school districts.
Oregon (any permit holders, some school districts prevent employees from carrying)
Rhode Island (with a state concealed weapons permit)
South Dakota (law authorizes districts to create, establish and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel or volunteers.)
Tennessee (allows certain school employees to carry a firearm on school grounds if they are licensed, meet certain qualifications and have written authorization from authorities)
Texas (with the school’s permission) — Texas Association of School Boards says 172 school districts in Texas allow staff and board members to carry firearms onto school premises
Utah (any teacher or staff member with a concealed handgun permit can carry) — about 5 percent of the public school teachers in the state carry and about 10 percent to 12 percent of the support staff.
Washington (eight schools in the Toppenish School District have nineteen administrators who carry)
Wyoming (in 2017 a law was passed that left the decision up to the local school boards. 24 hours of training required.)
Source: Crime Prevention Research Center
