Officials vote to postpone policy to arm teachers
School board members in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania have voted to postpone a policy allowing teachers to carry guns in school.
Joe Egan, right, a representative of The Buckeye Firearm Foundation, at a Tamaqua School Board meeting in November 2018. Board member Nicholas Boyle, left, and School Board President Larry Wittig, confer with him. (Matt Smith for Keystone Crossroads)
School board members in Pennsylvania have voted to postpone a policy allowing teachers to carry guns in school.
In a 2-1 vote Tuesday evening, the Tamaqua school board’s Security Committee says it will suspend the implementation of the policy pending a court hearing on its validity.
Both teachers and parents have filed lawsuits against the policy claiming it violates state law and poses a danger to the community.
The district serves more than 2,100 students and is believed to be the first school system in the state to let teachers carry weapons.
The policy approved in September says teachers and other employees can volunteer to carry concealed, district-issued guns after training.
The full board will vote on the policy Jan. 15.
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