Florida sheriff supports armed teachers in schools to stop shooters

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Controversial Parkland deputy refuses to testify

The attorney for former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson says his client isn't getting a fair shake from the state commission investigating the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; reaction from Hunter Pollack, brother of Parkland victim Meadow Pollack.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The sheriff leading the state commission investigating Florida's high school massacre says he now believes trained, volunteer teachers should have access to guns so they can stop shooters who get past other safeguards.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, said he will ask the panel to recommend state law be changed so teachers who undergo background checks and extensive training will be allowed to have guns on campus as a last line of defense. It's a proposal that both the state teachers union and PTA oppose.

Gualtieri told The Associated Press this week he long believed only law enforcement personnel should carry guns at school, but his position "morphed" after studying other shootings and watching security video of the Feb. 14 Stoneman Douglas attack, which left 14 students and three staff members dead.

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He said it "gnaws" at him that suspect Nikolas Cruz stopped firing five times to reload his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, but no teacher or other school employee could use those pauses to shoot Cruz. The athletic director and a coach, both unarmed, died trying to stop Cruz and at least one teacher minutes later would have had a clear shot.

Meanwhile, video shows the Broward County sheriff's deputy assigned to the school drew his gun but stayed outside. By the time other law enforcement arrived, the final fatal shots had been fired.

In this June 7, 2018 file photo Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission chair and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri gestures as he speaks during a commission meeting in Sunrise, Fla. Guiltieri says he now believes trained, volunteer teachers should have access to guns so they can stop shooters who get past other safeguards.

"We know from the history of these things that the majority are stopped by school personnel," Gualtieri said, pointing to shootings where the gunman was tackled or disarmed by a teacher or campus employee. "People need to keep an open mind to it as the reality is that if someone else in that school had a gun it could have saved kids' lives."

After the shooting, Florida law was changed to allow school districts to train and arm employees other than teachers, including administrators, librarians and custodians. Teachers are barred unless they are former or current police officers, current members of the military or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructors. Thirteen of the state's 67 countywide districts adopted the program, mostly in rural parts of the state.

Currently, teachers in 28 states can carry firearms, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center, a conservative nonprofit organization. District approval is required in most states and restrictions and training requirements vary.

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Both the Florida Education Association, which is the state teachers union, and the Florida PTA oppose arming teachers, saying having more guns on campus will make schools more dangerous, not less.

Gualtieri said it "gnaws" at him that suspect Nikolas Cruz (pictured) stopped firing five times to reload his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, but no teacher or other school employee could use those pauses to shoot Cruz. (Associated Press)

"Teachers should not be acting as armed security guards. The majority of our members don't want to be armed — they know it would be impractical and dangerous," union spokeswoman Joni Branch said.

Angie Gallo, the state PTA's legislation chair, said only law enforcement should carry guns on campus.

"Teachers need to teach," Gallo said. "Their job is not to secure our schools. It is not to shoot at shooters."

Other members of Gualtieri's commission, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, have expressed support for arming teachers, although it is unclear if a majority agrees.

The 15 panel members appointed by Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders include law enforcement, education and mental health professionals, a legislator and the fathers of two slain students. The panel, which has been meeting periodically since April, must file its initial report to Scott, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by Jan. 1. It will consider proposals for adoption at its mid-December meeting.

Other proposed recommendations include preventing outside attacks by limiting and staffing entrances; allowing all school employees to order a lockdown; improving campus communication systems; and tightening laws governing the assessment of students who may pose a threat. For law enforcement, the proposals include giving officers clear orders that they must confront active shooters, even if they are alone, and making sure first responders from different agencies have radios that can quickly be programmed to communicate with each other.

Cruz, now 20, has pleaded not guilty, but his lawyers have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.