HB 567 Would Have Allowed any Employee to Become a ‘School Marshal’ and Carry a Firearm on School Property
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement after Gov. Bullock vetoed HB 567, legislation that would have paved the way to arming teachers in Montana.
“By vetoing this dangerous legislation, Gov. Bullock took a stand for public safety,” said Kiely Lammers, volunteer leader with the Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We’re all concerned about keeping our kids safe at school, and the reality is that arming school employees, including teachers, is risky. We applaud Gov. Bullock for rejecting this reckless legislation.”
The legislation would have created a new program that would allow any employee to become a school marshal and carry a firearm on school property, with no real limit on what type of employee would be eligible to become a marshal and therefore be allowed to carry a gun on school grounds.
Research indicates that arming teachers will make children less safe. For this reason, school safety experts, teachers and law enforcement officials across the country oppose arming teachers. The National Association of School Resource Officers, the largest organization of school-based law enforcement officers, also opposes arming teachers. More information about the risks of arming teachers, as well as proven strategies for improving school safety, is available in a new report from Everytown, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.