It's back to school for gun-toting teachers in St. Helens.

The district school board voted 4-1 Wednesday to lift a ban that had prohibited educators and staff from carrying firearms on school grounds.

Board members back in March had narrowly passed the controversial measure, forbidding employees, contractors and volunteers from packing heat on school property – even if the individual had a concealed handgun license.

Citing the Second Amendment, members opposed to the ban had said that the measure violated their oath of office to uphold the constitution – and vowed to repeal it.

On Wednesday they succeeded, thanks, in part, to a pair of pro-gun board members that had won an election back in May.

"I feel that our kids are more protected now," said board member Ray Biggs, who lead the repeal of the measure. "The NRA says the only way you can stop a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun."

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh