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VA Governor Vetoes Bill to Allow School Security to Carry Guns

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed a bill that seeks to allow certain school security officers to carry guns.

Republican Del. Scott Lingamfelter's bill would allow school security officers to carry a firearm if they're a retired law enforcement officer and have met certain training standards. The local school board would also have to agree to it. 

McAuliffe said in his veto message that the bill would expose students and schools to "unnecessary risk and potential harm" by allow people without adequate training to carry firearms in schools.

School resource officers are active law enforcement officials and are already allowed to carry guns in schools. School security officers are civilian employees.

The bill didn't pass in the Republican-controlled Senate with enough support to overturn McAuliffe's veto

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.