MYNORTHWEST NEWS

State bill allowing teachers to carry guns in schools brought before Legislature

Feb 27, 2019, 6:25 AM | Updated: 11:00 am

Phil Fortunato, guns, schools, teachers, sanctuary...

Sen. Phil Fortunato (AP)

(AP)

A bill was introduced in the Washington Legislature Tuesday by Republican Senator Phil Fortunato that would allow teachers to possess guns on schools grounds, provided they meet certain criteria.

RELATED: Lawmaker wants to arm teachers in Washington schools
RELATED: Lynnwood gun store owner thinks she found loophole in I-1639

“It is the paramount duty of the state to provide for basic education. The Legislature finds that pursuant to this duty, basic education requires a safe learning environment,” the bill reads.

SB-5977 would allow permanent school employees — defined in the bill as teachers, administrators, or anyone working under contract with a school for at least a year — to carry a gun on elementary or secondary school premises and school-provided transportation.

In order to possess a firearm on school grounds, permanent school employees would need a valid concealed carry permit, successful completion of a firearms training course, and approval from the school board.

The identities of employees carrying guns would be kept under wraps.

“Let’s say we have a high school and we have 50 teachers and administrators, heck the janitor could participate in this,” Fortunato told Dori Monson recently. “Out of those 50, five of them decide to participate in this project. Which five? So the whole secret is if somebody was to attempt to do something, he doesn’t know which teacher or which administrator would be armed in that situation. That would be a force multiplier by keeping that information confidential.”

Given that Washington state voters just passed the country’s most stringent gun control measures in I-1639, this will likely be a tough sell in a Democrat-controlled Legislature.

This also isn’t the first controversial gun legislation Sen. Fortunato has proposed in recent months. In January, he presented a bill that would require state lawmakers to go through a firearm training course before passing any legislation related to gun control.

“There’s a little bit of a problem with somebody drafting legislation that doesn’t have the faintest idea at what the heck is going on with guns,” Fortunato said weeks back.

MyNorthwest News

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize up for grabs after $1.1B Mega Millions ticket sold

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $865 million ahead of Wednesday night's drawing.

5 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

7 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

9 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

9 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

9 hours ago

Image: A Tacoma teen was shot outside her Tacoma Hilltop area apartment over the weekend....

Heather Bosch

Estranged boyfriend suspected in Tacoma teen’s death turns himself in

We're learning more about the man who's accused of fatally shooting a teenager outside her Tacoma Hill Top area apartment over the weekend.

10 hours ago

State bill allowing teachers to carry guns in schools brought before Legislature