VA GOP Delegate Proposes Bill That Would Force School Staff To Be Armed

On the heels of the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut last week, Republican Delegate Robert G. Marshall of Virginia is proposing a bill that would require teachers or other school staff to carry concealed weapons. The Washington Post writes that Marshall’s proposal goes beyond the comments of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) who said we “need to discuss” the possibility of arming teachers.

Marshall’s proposal would not only allow staff to be armed, but would require that school districts designate certain staff members to do so. The employees would be need to be certified in gun safety and competence, according to Marshall.

Wenzel J. Cummings, the state lawyer appointed to draft Marshall’s bill, questioned the authority of the General Assembly to force school boards to arm their staff. “The Constitution of Virginia is fairly unclear on the role of the school boards vis-à-vis the General Assembly with regard to the schools,” he wrote. School boards have the “primary responsibility and authority for effectuating the educational policy,” but only “subject to the ultimate authority of the General Assembly.”

Cummings and a team of lawyers eventually concluded that the bill could be put forth because of precedent on the matter. A bill was proposed and accepted last session requiring school boards to adopt policies for stocking and administering epinephrine as treatment for allergic reactions.

Currently, the state of Virginia allows carrying a concealed weapon with a permit, but not on school grounds.

h/t WaPo
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