Pa. Senate to vote Wednesday on allowing teachers to carry guns

A plan to allow teachers to carry guns in schools is positioned for final vote in the Pennsylvania Legislature Wednesday.

Democrats added an amendment late Tuesday afternoon in an effort to ease some of the reservations of gun control and teachers groups, though the measure still may have a tough time getting past Gov. Tom Wolf, also a Democrat. 

Sen. Donald White, R-Indiana, is the main force behind the controversial piece of legislation.

He said it is designed to give school districts more options in protecting students from attacks.But others are concerned. Ceasefire PA’s Shira Goodman, for one, said she thinks it’s more likely to create liabilities.

“Senate Bill 383 is a dangerous bill that’s not going to make anyone safer,” she said.

In an effort to make the “troubling” bill more palatable, Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, successfully offered an amendment requiring psychiatric evaluation of any school faculty members who want to carry a firearm.

It’s unclear if the amendment will affect the governor’s position on the bill. Asked where he stood on the initial version, Wolf was blunt. “I’m against that,” he told reporters.