House Republicans voice approval for armed teachers

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Intro:	As lawmakers across the country look to cut down on school shootings, Missouri House Republicans say the best way could be putting more guns in the hands of teachers.
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Wrap: Republican Representative Rick Brattin says Missouri teachers should be able to choose to carry firearms to protect their students in class.

He has introduced two identical amendments that would allow school districts to let teachers with conceal carry licenses undergo training in order to have a loaded weapon on them at all times.

But Democratic Representative Stacey Newman says that would pose a problem.

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Description: "This is allowing teachers to be law enforcement. That should be a red flag for everyone because teachers are not law enforcement, and they obviously don't have the same background or the same training and they've got a whole other job that they're trying to do."

One of Brattin's amendments has already moved to the Senate, the other needs one more vote in the House.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	Last December's Sandy Hook massacre ignited furious debates on gun control across the country, but Republicans in Missouri's state Capitol say more guns in classrooms could have prevented it.
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Wrap: Algebra, arithmetic, armed teachers?

Republican Representative Rick Brattin says that might be the best answer to preventing school massacres in Missouri.

Democrats say arming teachers could make schools even more prone to disaster, but Republican Representative Keith Frederick says it could at least mean a shorter shooting spree for a gunman who gets in the school.

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Description: "When the first officer arrives and confronts them with a firearm, they generally take their own lives. Now as tragic as that is, at that point, they're beyond therapy, they're beyond intervention. They're about to take a number of other innocent lives. Why not challenge them sooner?"

One of Brattin's amendments has already moved to the Senate, the other needs one more vote in the House.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	House Republicans in the state Capitol say more guns in schools could be what prevents another school shooting like the Sandy Hook massacre happening in Missouri.
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Wrap: Republican Representative Rick Brattin has introduced two proposals that would allow school districts to let teachers with conceal carry licenses undergo training in order to have a loaded weapon on them at all times.

But Democratic Representative Genise Montecillo says Brattin's proposals don't do anything to protect students.

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Description: "He didn't talk about invaders coming in the school or predators coming in the school or anybody else. He talked about discipline. And to contend that we need weapons to discipline our students or restrain our students until a principal gets there I think is just outrageous."

One of Brattin's amendments has already moved to the Senate, the other needs one more vote in the House.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.