HARROLD, TX (KTRK/CNN) – President Donald Trump has suggested he's interested in encouraging some teachers to carry weapons.
It’s a notion that’s not entirely unprecedented: some schools in Texas already allow it.
"Your heart rate goes up, your blood pressure goes up," said Ray Dunn, a tactical trainer.
In Dunn's class, there’s a real gun recoil and blast that comes when the trigger is pulled. Instead of a bullet, though, the gun shoots a laser.
It's a training tool Dunn uses to create lethally skilled shooters.
Dunn’s class isn’t for hunters or law enforcement. The exercises he teaches are to train educators in how to kill.
"If you have to shoot where there's a crowd of people, and in school there is a crowd of kids, you’d better be accurate," Dunn said.
The Texas Association of School Boards said 13 percent of Texas districts allow employees to have guns on campus.
After President Trump suggested certain teachers should carry, that number could rise.
Since the president’s remarks, Dunn said he’s been busy, and he expects the number of teachers he’s trained to increase.
"Probably approaching a couple hundred," Dunn said.
The 16-hour training starts with a bullseye.
"Shooting at targets is one thing, but shooting at a person, whether it's on video or not, is a whole different ball game," Dunn said.
Teachers aim, shoot and eliminate suspects.
"If you can't handle that type of situation, you definitely are not in line to be carrying a gun in a school," Dunn said.
It’s a training the Harrold Independent School District in North Texas uses.
"I think that they feel better about what they're doing," said David Thweatt, district superintendent.
Thweatt said it helps teachers become accurate and mentally focused.
"I don't care if I know them, if they are in the act of killing other innocent people, that's probably going to override my thought process about who they are, or what my relationship was with them in the past," Thweatt said.
Getting educators in the right mindset is what Dunn is passionate about. He hopes the training situation will help teachers eliminate suspects.
"They're wolves looking for sheep, and I train sheep dogs," Dunn said.
Dunn said he also works with churches and hospitals to teach their employees how to shoot guns.
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