Gov. Mike DeWine to sign bill authorizing armed school staff in Ohio

Under legislation approved by Republican lawmakers and expected to be signed by GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio school districts may be able to arm employees as soon as this fall.

In the wake of the massacre that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a Texas elementary school last week, Democrats say the proposal, available to schools only, sends the wrong message. The GOP said the measure could prevent such tragedies.

As a result of a court ruling, lawmakers fast-tracked the bill to compensate for the impact of long-standing law requiring workers to be trained for hundreds of hours.

DeWine has been urged to veto the measure by gun control advocates, law enforcement groups, and teachers' unions, which are hostile to the measure. Only a few police departments and school districts support it.

Introducing a bill that includes scenario-based training for teachers and students will protect children, DeWine said in making his support clear late Wednesday.

2 June 2022