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Virginia Lawmaker Pushes Arming School Officials

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Virginia lawmaker wants school boards in the state to designate employees who can carry concealed handguns on school property.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that the bill from Republican Del. Bob Marshall of Prince William County would require those who carry guns on school grounds to be trained and certified. They'd get training either from the state or from the National Rifle Association.

Some gun-rights advocates have argued that school shootings like the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 could be prevented if schools had armed personnel who could confront an active shooter. The National Conference of State Legislatures says eights states have passed laws since 2013 allowing teachers and school staff to carry guns.

Marshall has introduced similar legislation unsuccessfully in the past.

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.