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HELENA – The Montana House on Monday voted down a proposal to allow teachers and administrators to carry concealed weapons in classrooms and on school property.

Fifteen Republicans joined 41 Democrats to reject the bill in a 56-44 vote. It is one of several measures that state lawmakers are considering that would loosen gun restrictions, but all of them so far have been either vetoed or voted down.

The measure by Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, would have allowed full-time school employees who meet certain shooting standards to carry concealed weapons on school property.

Berglee said during the half-hour debate that an average school shooting lasts only three minutes, leaving little time for police to react in time.

"Who's going to be able to respond in time to stop a shooting that happens in three minutes?" Berglee said. "The only person is going to be someone who is in that school."

An FBI study of active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2013 found that 44 of 63 shootings in which the duration could be determined ended in five minutes or less. Twenty-three of those ended in two minutes or less, according to the study.