South Dakota Governor Signs Law Allowing Teachers To Arm Themselves

Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill that allows school boards to “supervise the arming of school employees” or hire armed guards.

Rep. Scott Craig (R-Rapid City) and Rep. Betty Olson (R-Prairie City) drafted South Dakota’s armed teachers legislation following the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In December, Olson told the Black Hills Pioneer that she “believes arming school personnel could have mitigated the Newtown massacre.”

The legislation passed the state’s House with a 42-17 vote in January and was approved by state senators, 21-14, last week.

By: Cheston Catalano

Cheston Catalano is a Kentucky-based journalist whose work has been featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. He is a long-time contributor to Liberaland.