In the wake of the Florida school shooting, I introduced legislation that would make our students safer tomorrow. While others are focusing on long-term proposals that may have an effect on student safety years in the future, I proposed that we implement training for schools and staff on how to respond to an active shooter situation. Some districts in our state already allow trained administrators to conceal carry on campus, my bill would have allowed the same state agency that trains police to develop a program that is uniform across the stat that includes an armed and unarmed response. Below are news stories and the full press conference that I held during the legislative session.

Washington lawmakers propose voluntary firearms training for teachers

OLYMPIA, Wash. – There’s a new push to have the state pay for teachers and other school district employees who volunteer to be armed. Auburn Republican Sen. Phil Fortunato says it would not require teachers to be armed… Read more.

State Senator proposes program that would train teachers to be armed in shooter situations

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A republican state senator says he’s getting death threats for proposing a program that trains teachers to be armed and able to respond in active shooter situations. The state teachers union is firmly against the idea. Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-sponsor of SB 6622, said he is being misunderstood. “It does not arm teachers. It does not put guns in schools. What it does do is establish a training program.” Read more.

Bill would reimburse districts, set standards for arming teachers

A group of Republican senators is backing a bill to reimburse districts who train their teachers in firearms while also establishing training guidelines.

While Governor Jay Inslee doesn’t like the idea of arming teachers, school districts in Washington are doing it… Read more.

New legislation could make arming teachers a statewide reality in Washington

SEATTLE — Legislation aimed at arming teachers in Washington state was introduced much to the ire of Gov. Jay Inslee and the state superintendent of public instruction who are strongly against the idea. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-31st District, said Wednesday that his bill isn’t focused on arming teachers but instead establishes a training program for how to respond in an emergency… Read more.