Kathleen McGrory, Miami Herald, March 11, 2015

Is the third time a charm for a proposal that would allow Florida teachers to pack heat?

Some members of the state House of Representatives hope so.

The controversial bill, which won the support of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, is likely to move quickly in the lower chamber.

But it may struggle to win votes in the more moderate Senate–largely because of opposition from the teachers union and PTA.

The proposal (HB 19) would let schools superintendents designate employees or volunteers to carry concealed weapons on school property.

Any designated individuals would have to have served in the military or law enforcement, and undergo special training from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

They would also need to hold concealed weapons permits.

State Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, says the measure would keep students and teachers safe in a school shooting.

“Most of our elementary schools do not have a school resource officer or anyone there that can respond to any type of armed threat,” Steube said. “So they are at the whim of a shooter until a law enforcement officer gets there.”

{snip}