Teachers have no business carrying guns into classrooms, even if they have state weapons permits, says Doug Bates, attorney for the state Office of Education.
"To have a teacher, not a marksman, exchanging gunfire with a gang member, for instance, in a classroom, surrounded by children, does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling," said Bates, a former police officer.Scott Engen of the Utah Shooting Sports Council maintains teachers, like others, have a right to bear arms, even in school.
"Considering the number of assaults we have had in public schools and the lack of school officials' ability to protect personnel, teachers' providing for their own safety really is a vote of no confidence," he said.
Under state school board policy and state law, no one is allowed to carry guns on campus.
The Legislature eased gun laws to make it easier for individuals to carry concealed weapons and to date, nearly 9,000 such permits have been issued, according to the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification.
Teachers are no doubt among them, and that worries Bates.
"We have gotten calls wondering if that lets teachers, custodians and bus drivers carry guns. The answer is no. If they obtain a permit, state law says they can't carry the gun anywhere on school grounds," he said.
A school is a public place, but so are airports and courthouses, which also ban possession of firearms by the public, he said.
"To have such a ruling is discrimination by administrative fiat by the state Board of Education and of dubious legal standing," Engen said. "The fun-damental issue we are talking about is people who have chosen to mold young minds, who have pursued higher degrees and been certified by the state. Now, they are suggesting they are too dangerous to provide for their own safety with firearms."
He contends the state law banning firearms at school exempts those with concealed weapon permits.
Some teachers have been concerned about the state board's calling attention to the law and may "fear retaliation or disciplinary action," Engen said.
The Utah Education Association "has not had much to do" with teachers carrying firearms, said executive director Lowell Baum. He said teachers try to follow the law, although some have been criticized for leaving firearms in their cars while at school.