OKLAHOMA CITY — Leaders in the Oklahoma House ramped up security by erecting guard stations in hallways, banning public access to stairwells and hiring an ex-police officer licensed to carry a gun less than one year after thousands of teachers’ staged peaceful protests in the Oklahoma Capitol to demand more education funding.

The increase in security was imposed by majority Republicans as a new session of the Legislature opened Monday. House Speaker Charles McCall denied the measures were prompted by the two-week teacher walkout, which was peaceful and didn’t result in any arrests.

“These changes aren’t meant to be heavy-handed in any way,” McCall told The Associated Press. “We’re interested in being proactive to ensure people who visit the Capitol have a safe, positive experience.”

He said limiting public access to the stairwells would allow members to more easily access the chamber and that the guard stations outside the offices of the top two House leaders were to provide information to visitors.