Cobb County School District To Allow Some Staff To Carry Guns

COBB COUNTY, GA — Selected Cobb County school staff –excluding teachers – will be able to carry guns on campus after the board voted 4-2 Thursday night, according to multiple reports.

The “enhanced security” proposal will allow selected staff members to bring a gun to school without any prior police experience, WSB-TV reported.

“Teachers are not going to be armed,” Cobb County Superintendent Chris Ragsdale told the news station. “It is very important, obviously, for us to exhaust every possible option for keeping our staff and students safe.”

The approved armed staff is the school district’s way of protecting students against potential threats, he told WSB-TV.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, carrying a weapon will be voluntary for those selected staff members, along with other stipulations such as having a license to carry, passing an annual criminal background check, and no history of mental or emotional instability. Training is also required.

The employees selected to carry guns are up to the discretion of the superintendent, including those who don't need training, the AJC reported.