Texas School District OK's Teachers To Conceal Carry

FAYETTEVILLE, TX — The small town of Fayetteville is a quaint hamlet in Central Texas that's a friendly, laid-back place where everyone knows their neighbor. Just like many map dots all over the state, it has a town square with a general store, bank, hardware store and small mom and pop businesses.

The town halfway between Austin and Houston doesn't have a one-room schoolhouse, but the school district is so small that it fits all 286 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in one building.

This week the Fayetteville Independent School District (FISD) addressed a growing national concern this week. In a letter to parents, FISD administrators explained they were launching a "Guardians" program on campus. That means teachers and administrators will be allowed to carry a concealed gun on campus — after a rigorous vetting and training process, of course.

"Recently, the board has changed local policy and has created a group that we will call 'Guardians,'" The letter read. "They will have the right to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds."

FISD Superintendent Jeff Harvey said mass shootings like the church massacre in Sutherland Springs near San Antonio and more recently in Parkland, Florida, played a part their decision, but weren't the direct cause.

"We have gone through this process since it became a discussion at our school board about eight-and-a-half-months ago," Harvey said. "We came back in January, put it up as an action item and the board agreed to unanimously begin our 'Guardian' program."

The letter goes on to explain the vetting and training of their teachers with these following guidelines.

"The Guardians will be staff members who have passed each of the following requirements (and more):

1. Hand-selected staff members
2. Must have their License to Carry permit (LTC).
3. Must pass a psychological exam just like local law enforcement
4. Must qualify annually with the specific handgun they will carry.
5. Must be on the random drug testing list and pass all tests.
6. Must be trained in tactics for denying an intruder entry into a classroom or facility.
7. Must be approved by the school board."

Teachers are not required to be 'Guardians' as all of them are volunteer.

"I want to make sure we're doing what is right for our community and our kids," he said. "That's my number one concern. What happens in other districts, that's their business. What happens in Fayetteville ISD, that's our business."

Although the plan was announced only Monday, Harvey said there were already some faculty members who had been approved by the board to be "Guardians."

Image: With a gun on his hip, gun instructor Mike Stilwell, demonstrates an semi automatic hand gun as as he teaches a packed class to obtain the Utah concealed gun carry permit, at Range Master of Utah, on January 9, 2016 in Springville, Utah. Utahs permits, available for a fee to non-residents who meet certain requirements, are among the most popular in the country because they are recognized in more than 30 states. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)