KETV.com
Bills Allowing Guns In Neb. Schools Sparks Debate
School Safety Needs To Be Top Priority, Legislators Say
Legislators are proposing two bills to allow Nebraska schools' staff to bring guns to school following a shooting at Millard South High School last month.
School officials and legislators agreed that school safety needs to be a top priority, but a disagreement came over the issue of who should carry guns and if school staff really needs the firepower.
“Everybody in Nebraska is talking about school security,” said Andy Allen, president of Nebraska Firearms Association.
School officials said one of the bills would allow off-duty police officers, contracted to work for a school, to carry a weapon.
“We feel this is extremely important to have that security presence here and have somebody there that is trained to respond to an emergency if so needed,” said Bill Kuehn, director of security at Lincoln Public Schools.
The second bill, which would give trained school staff and teachers the option to pack heat, was met with disapproval.
“I think it's ludicrous to suggest that we should allow our classroom instructors to be armed,” said Sen. Brenda Council.
The bill's creator, Sen. Mark Christensen, said his constituents in western Nebraska don't have the resources found on the eastern side of the state.
“Sometime, we don't even have enough police and sheriffs in town, communities that we would like to have,” Christensen said.
This is why, Christensen said, his fellow lawmakers need to give his bill a closer look.
“I agree (that) the bigger districts don't need it. They have the resources and people on staff. (But) western Nebraska would have the option if they feel they need it,” Christensen said.
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