Nearly 200 school shootings have resulted in injury or death in the U.S. since 2018, prompting Ohio’s Department of Public Safety to equip school staff with specialized firearms training. Advocates believe the training will enhance schools’ ability to protect students during shootings. The state recently started providing close-quarters firearms training for public school staff.
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In 2022, Ohio passed legislation allowing school personnel to carry firearms in classrooms after completing 24 hours of instruction and at least four hours of scenario-based or simulated training exercises. Previously, the state required staff to complete the same 700 hours of firearms training as law enforcement or security officers to carry within a school.
The Ohio Mobile Training Team, responsible for training armed school staff, requested $78,000 from the state for two custom “mobile modular shoot houses” for initial and annual recertification training. Training groups can use the units outside on live fire ranges and indoors with simulation rounds. These units aim to realistically simulate active shooter scenarios in school settings.
Jay Carey, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, emphasized the importance of realistic training to The Guardian.
“The more realistic we can make the training, the better prepared armed school staff will be to respond to an active shooter,” Carey said.
However, a recent Gallup poll shows that 73% of teachers oppose carrying guns in schools. 58% said they believe it would make schools less safe. Only 18% of teachers polled were willing to carry a firearm in school buildings. Currently, 67 school districts, mostly in rural areas with slower law enforcement response times, allow staff to carry firearms.
The purchase of the shoot houses has not been finalized yet. Carey mentioned that the units could be incorporated into teacher firearm training as early as this summer.
