South Dakota Law to Allow Teachers to Be Armed

Daily News Article — Posted on March 11, 2013

(from the AP at The Wall Street Journal) PIERRE, S.D.- South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a bill Friday allowing the state’s school districts to arm teachers and other personnel with guns.

Supporters say the so-called sentinels could help prevent tragedies such as the Connecticut school shooting in December. The law will go into effect July 1.

Several representatives of school boards, school administrators and teachers opposed the bill during committee testimony last month. They said the measure could make schools more dangerous, lead to accidental shootings and put guns in the hands of people who are not adequately trained to shoot in emergency situations.

But main bill sponsor Rep. Scott Craig (R., Rapid City) said earlier this week that he has received messages from a growing number of school board members and administrators who back it.

Mr. Craig said rural districts do not have the money to hire full-time law officers, so they are interested in arming teachers or volunteers.

The measure does not force a district to arm its teachers and would not force teachers to carry a gun.

On Monday, the South Dakota House voted 40-19 to accept the Senate version of the bill, which added a requirement that a school district must decide in a public meeting whether to arm teachers and others. Another Senate amendment allowed school district residents to push a school board’s decision to a public vote.

Questions

1. a) Who is the governor of South Dakota?
b) What bill did the governor sign into law on Friday? (What will it require? What will it allow? What won't it require?)

2. When will the new law go into effect?

3. What control will local school districts/towns have over how the law is administered?

4. How did Rep. Scott Craig explain school officials' support for the law?

5. a) What is the population of South Dakota? How does this compare with your state?
b) What is the population of the largest city in South Dakota?

6. a) Do you think this is a good law? Explain your answer.
b) Would your answer differ if the law was passed in a densely populated state? Explain your answer.