Texas School District Arms Teachers for Fall Semester

One Texas school district is allowing some teachers to carry a firearm on all four of its campuses.

According to the New York Daily News, the Argyle Independent School District voted in favor of the measure back in January, following “a comprehensive evaluation of District’s safety, security and emergency response politics” due to “the unfortunate and tragic situations that occurred in multiple American schools over the last several years,” the news release said.

Not every teacher is carrying a gun, but those are — referred to as School Marshals — are acting under the state’s Protection of Texas Children Act, MyFox8 reported.

The school has posted signs on its campuses warning that its teachers are armed. “Please be aware that the staff at Argyle ISD are armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students,” the sign reads.

As the Daily News reports, the program is being overseen by the local chief of police and each teacher must have a concealed carry license and pass an interview, psychological exam and firearms and emergency response training course. In addition, they have to take part in an ongoing requalification process.

“I think if a tragedy does occur, lives can be saved by guns being in the right hands, and I think the teachers here might be able to stop something like that and life can be saved,” parent Lacey Fenoglio told CW33, according to the Daily News.

“I trust that the administrators of this school district will put my kid’s best interest at heart,” Fenoglio added.