Sen. John Ford: "Firearms in schools was one of the areas (a school safety task force) looked at, but they did not include that as a recommendation."
Correction: A Tuesday story gave the incorrect title for Sen. Gary Stanislawski. This story has been corrected.
OKLAHOMA CITY - A bill that would let schools allow some teachers and administrators to carry weapons on campus will not get a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.
The committee's chairman, Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, said Monday that he would not give a hearing to House Bill 1062 by Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa.
Monday was the deadline for House bills to be heard in the Senate Education Committee, Ford said.
McCullough declined to comment.
The measure passed the House last month by a vote of 68-22.
The bill would require any educators who carry a gun at school to have at least 120 hours of training from the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.
Ford said the Oklahoma Commission on School Safety issued a list of recommendations that did not include allowing schools to let educators carry weapons.
"Firearms in schools was one of the areas looked at, but they did not include that as a recommendation," he said.
The panel was led by Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb. It had 22 members representing education, mental health, public safety and other areas, Ford said.
It was formed shortly after the December killings of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The commission's recommendations include:
- Forming an Oklahoma School Security Institute under the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.
- Establishing a mental health first-aid training pilot program.
- Amending and changing state law to consolidate and require safety drills.
- Requiring the reporting of firearms to local law enforcement.
- Establishing a statewide school security tip line.
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, a member of the Senate Education Committee, said he supported Ford's decision.
"I think, from my perspective, Rep. McCullough was trying to find a solution to increase public safety, but that is not a direction I think would be best served by staff and students at public schools," he said.
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, a member of the Senate Education Committee and a former teacher, said he trusts Ford's judgment.
"That is the chairman's call," said Jolley, who leads the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Jolley applauded the work of the Oklahoma Commission on School Safety.
"I think we need to be very cautious about what we do regarding putting more weapons in schools," he said.
Ford said he didn't think the measure would be assigned to another Senate committee.
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Armed-teachers bill shut out
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