North Carolina teachers who carry guns in schools would get raises under new bill

North Carolina teachers who undergo specialized police training to carry firearms on campus would get a salary boost, under newly proposed school self-defense legislation.The News & Observer reported the School Security Act of 2019, filed Wednesday, is primarily sponsored by Sen. Jerry Tillman. Tillman, a retired school administrator, said the interest in arming teachers has gone up.The new bill would offer a 5 percent salary increase to up to 3,000 teachers who complete the state’s training programs and become “teacher resource officers.” The bill would provide $9.3 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year to pay for the training and raises. Teachers who become “teacher resource officers" would have the same arresting powers on campus as school resource officers. Tillman believes arming teachers -- and keeping which teachers are armed confidential -- will make gunmen think twice before opening fire inside a classroom.“It’s a big deterrent to somebody going to shoot up a school,” Tillman said. “You need to stop them any way you can.”

North Carolina teachers who undergo specialized police training to carry firearms on campus would get a salary boost, under newly proposed school self-defense legislation.

The News & Observer reported the School Security Act of 2019, filed Wednesday, is primarily sponsored by Sen. Jerry Tillman.


Tillman, a retired school administrator, said the interest in arming teachers has gone up.

The new bill would offer a 5 percent salary increase to up to 3,000 teachers who complete the state’s training programs and become “teacher resource officers.” The bill would provide $9.3 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year to pay for the training and raises.

Teachers who become “teacher resource officers" would have the same arresting powers on campus as school resource officers.

Tillman believes arming teachers -- and keeping which teachers are armed confidential -- will make gunmen think twice before opening fire inside a classroom.

“It’s a big deterrent to somebody going to shoot up a school,” Tillman said. “You need to stop them any way you can.”