Guns in schools

The Ohio School Safety Center is upgrading its equipment. The center will operate “shoot houses” so school staff armed with guns can practice facing an active shooter.

As a new law slashing the amount of training needed to arm Ohio teachers goes into effect, the Democratic candidate for governor is criticizing incumbent Republican Mike DeWine for signing it into law.

Education groups are voicing their concerns over the new Ohio law that takes mandatory training for school staff to carry a gun from 700 hours to 24 hours.

The bill, passed by Republican lawmakers on Wednesday, dramatically lowers the training requirements for teachers, faculty, staff or volunteers who want to be armed in schools.

The bill allows teachers, staff and volunteers to carry weapons with 24 hours of training, down from more than 700 hours in current law.

The bill that sets minimum training requirements for teachers, other personnel and volunteers who want to carry weapons in school buildings is likely to be on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

The Republican leaders of the Ohio House and Senate said they want to increase security in schools, but not restrictions on weapons.

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that school districts must provide police-level training to employees carrying concealed weapons.

More than 130 people have voiced their opposition to a bill that would establish a required baseline of training if school districts want to allow teachers and other workers to carry a gun in schools.

Lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow teachers and school workers to carry guns in schools if they have the eight hours of training that comes with earning a concealed carry license.