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Harrold, Texas: A tiny Texas school district will allow teachers and staff members to carry concealed firearms to protect against school shootings when classes begin this month, provided the gun-toting employees follow certain requirements.
The small community of Harrold in north Texas is a 30-minute drive from the Wilbarger County Sheriff's Office, leaving students and teachers without protection, said David Thweatt, superintendent of the Harrold Independent School District.
The lone campus of the 110-student district sits near a heavily travelled highway, which could make it a target, he argued.
"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog," Thweatt said in a story published on Friday on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's website.
Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organisation did not know of another district with such a policy. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, said Harrold is the first district with such a policy.
Guidelines
Trustees approved the policy change last year. For employees to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorised to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations; and must have ammunition designed to minimise the risk of ricocheting bullets.
Officials researched the policy and considered other options for about a year before approving the policy change, Thweatt said.
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