An effort by Democrats on the State Board of Education to issue a statement critical of legislation that would allow concealed guns in schools was defeated this week, after the board's Republicans abstained from the vote.

Cassandra Ulbrich, D-Rochester Hills, who pushed for the board to take a stance on the legislation - approved by the state Senate last week - said guns don't belong in schools.

And while she expressed support for a provision in the bill that closes a loophole in state law allowing guns to be openly carried in schools, she said the legislation is not the way to create a safer environment for children.

"When someone carries a gun onto a campus you don't know if they are the good guy or the bad guy, so it ends up with lockdowns, it ends up with mass confusion," said Ulbrich, co-president of the board. "I don't think you take it to the other extreme, though, and allow mass ability to carry weapons into schools just because you happen to have it under your shirt as opposed to over your shirt."

Under the Senate bill, residents with a concealed pistol license - who complete an additional eight hours of training beyond what's already required - could carry guns in areas previously off-limits, such as schools, day care centers, stadiums, churches and college dorms.

Supporters of the bill argue allowing concealed guns in those areas could deter or prevent mass shootings.

The bill was approved along party-lines, with one Republican - Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy - joining the chamber's Democrats in voting against the measure. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Board member Eileen Weiser, R-Ann Arbor, said the board should wait to weigh in on the legislation until it clears the House, because its substance could change as lawmakers work on the bill in the weeks ahead.

She also questioned whether the board - instead of reacting to the legislation - should instead focus on taking steps to prepare schools for mass shootings and other dangerous situations.

"I would welcome a parallel discussion on this, which is are we protecting children against things that can happen, and are we doing it in the most thoughtful way," Weiser said.

Later, she added: "I know that to try and do an elementary school drill on an active shooter is a terrifying prospect, but that's what this bill is all about."

Weiser was not present later in the meeting when the board voted on whether to issue a statement on the legislation.

Board member Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, abstained from the vote.

"The best way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun," he said, later adding that he didn't think the board needed to weigh in on the issue.

In 2015, the state board issued a statement in opposition to a similar bill involving concealed guns and schools. At that time, the board had a Democratic majority of 6-2. Now, the board is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

During this week's meeting, Ulbrich asked board members to reaffirm their support for that 2015 statement.

She also suggested a compromise with reluctant board members, saying the board's statement could emphasize that it should be up to local districts - not the state - to decide whether to allow guns in schools.

"It's hard to say we believe in local control and then we strip away something this important from their purview," Ulbrich said.

Board member Nikki Snyder, R-Dexter, said she wants to ensure that schools are safe for children. But she chose to abstain on the motion to weigh in on the concealed gun bill, saying it represented a "rhetorical conversation that distracts us" from addressing the solution to the problem.

She suggested that more focus and resources should be devoted to mental health programs designed to serve individuals that show signs of violent behavior.

Board member Lupe Ramos-Montigny, D-Grand Rapids, who also proposed that the board issue a statement on the legislation, said allowing concealed guns in schools puts on more worry on the minds of already busy educators.

"How can you sit here ... and say this is not a concern," she said, in response to Republican board members who were skeptical of weighing in on the issue.