Lucas
The Indiana House of Representatives recently advanced state Rep. Jim Lucas’ legislation to boost school safety by providing voluntary firearm training for Hoosier teachers and staff.
Under the Seymour Republican’s bill, teachers could opt in to complete 40 hours of specialized training with a qualified instructor with approval by a school board or charter school. Currently, Indiana’s public schools can allow teachers to carry on school property, but Lucas said there is not a state standardized training program.
“When faced with a life-or-death situation, simple drills and basic training can make all the difference,” Lucas said. “With this legislation, schools have the option to send their teachers through a state-certified course designed to teach them how to respond to a threat like an active-shooter situation.”
Under House Bill 1177, the firearms training courses would be paid for by the state.
Lucas said he worked over the last year to gather input from law enforcement and public safety experts to craft the legislation, which he says is a commonsense move that simply gives schools more assistance in the event of an active shooter situation.
Lucas’ legislation builds on the state’s ongoing efforts to prioritize school safety. Since 2013, more than $133 million in matching grants have been awarded to Indiana school districts through the Secured School Safety Program.
In 2023, schools in Jackson, Bartholomew, Washington and Scott counties received more than $709,000 in school safety grants to make security updates. To learn more about the state’s efforts and connect to education and training to help save lives, visit the Indiana Schools Safety Hub at in.gov/schoolsafety.
House Bill 1177 now moves to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about the bill and track it through the legislative process.