Mississippi House considering a bill that would give civil immunity to certain armed teachers

Brian McGairty is the MDE’s Director of Safe and Orderly Schools. He says the education department was consulted prior to the bill's filing, and they support the bill. 

"Obviously this bill can change as it goes through [the chambers]," he said. "But as it was drafted, as we saw it, it definitely aligns with some of the priorities we put in place."

He also says a committee within the MDE on school safety has been discussing the possibility of legislation like this since last year, and that the priority of his division as well as the entire education department is the safety of students. Julian Miller is a Senior Supervising Attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center, and he says this bill will likely cause some problems. He also says that the solution to gun violence is not to put more guns in the hands of civilians.

"The gun lobby is looking out for the interest of the gun industry," he said. "So, the policy response is to have more guns, when in reality, you're not gonna curb this problem unless you get dangerous automatic weapons off the streets."

The bill has passed committee but has yet to be taken up on the House floor. The deadline for bills to pass through their own chamber is Thursday.