TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - With a state commission saying classroom teachers should be allowed to be armed guardians, Governor Ron DeSantis backed the possibility of more school employees being able to carry guns, while also calling for other steps to avoid mass shootings.
DeSantis told reporters that his upcoming budget proposal will include money for school security.
A state law allows school districts to hire armed guardians, school personnel whose primary job duties are outside the classroom to supplement school law enforcement officers. The governor supports the law.
"Those Parkland families, and what's happened, you know, they could taken this however they wanted too. They decided they didn't want this to happen again," said DeSantis. "So I think what they've done already is probably saved lives, and I know it will save lives going into the future. So they really should be commended for their efforts."
DeSantis was responding to a question about a report issued by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which was created last year after the mass shooting in Parkland that killed 17 students and faculty members.
The commission's recommendations also included allowing teachers to act as armed guardians, an issue that has been highly controversial.
