Several school safety bills are moving through the South Carolina State House as lawmakers desperately search for ways to prevent school shootings.
The first bill would require metal detectors in entrances of every school starting next school year. Another bill would require mandatory active shooter drills in all public schools.
The third bill, deemed as the Jacob Hall School Protection Act, would allow teachers to carry firearms to class. The bill is named after the student killed in the Townville Elementary School shooting in 2016.
This bill has been sitting in a house subcommittee for more than an year, but a sponsor told NBC Charlotte the legislation will come up for discussion in the next two weeks.
The proposal would allow teachers and district office employees to carry firearms to protect students from active shooters. The school board would decide which type of firearm educators could carry.
Nathalie Stewart, a fourth grade teacher, thinks the bill is too risky.
“Say that someone comes and out of fear you think it’s the person who has the weapon coming in and it’s actually a scared child and you end up shooting a child,” said Stewart.
If the bill passes, educators carrying a firearm would have to own a public school concealed weapons permit which would only be approved by SLED.
Educators would also have to undergo a background check and approval from the superintendent before being allowed to bring a weapon on campus.
“I just don’t think that’s safe for the school nor for the individuals in the school, said Stewart. “We have people trained in that position already.”
Yet some disagree, like Clyde Baker, the owner of Pappy’s Gun Shop in Edgemoor.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Baker. “It just seems like today’s society has little regard for human life.”
Baker has held concealed weapon permit courses since 1996. He’s seen thousands of professionals attend his classes due the countless numbers of active shooters attacking businesses nationwide.
“We have lawyers, doctors and teachers come through here,” said Baker.
Local law enforcement told us they are do not support more guns in school and at this time don’t fully support the bill.