WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones offered free concealed weapon training to teachers in his jurisdiction, a few days after a gunman killed 17 people at a Florida high school.
Jones' offer included space for 50 teachers. Demand was four times that high.
Premier Shooting and Training Center is offering to help, by providing free concealed carry classes to teachers. Premier also will have discounted classes on how to handle medical crises.
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Colin Bullard served in the U.S. military and has been teaching for about 12 years. He already has concealed carry and critical incident training. Many fellow teachers, he said, are ready to join in, though he recognizes it's not for everyone.
"Other teachers come from different backgrounds and aren't so comfortable with it," he said.
In Ohio, districts must authorize teachers and staffers to carry concealed weapons in the building. Edgewood City Schools adopted a concealed carry policy in 2013, according to the Dayton Daily News. It's not clear if other county districts have similar policies.
We've reached 200 interests for the CCW classes. Great show of support for our schools and our children! #kidscomefirst We will be in contact soon.
— Richard K. Jones (@butlersheriff) February 19, 2018
At Cincinnati Public Schools, the region's largest district, the Board of Education and administrators haven't talked about providing any kind of training to teachers on the use of guns. Spokeswoman Lauren B. Worley said all teachers and staff go through regular training on school safety protocols, including active shooter drills.
Confronting a shooter is just one part of the equation: There's also the issue of immediate medical care.
Jim Hardman, a tactical instructor at Premier, is offering a discount on discounted critical care classes to teachers. If someone has an arterial wound, he said, they could have just 90 seconds until they bleed out and die. He'd like teachers to arm themselves with tourniquets and other supplies, furthering their classroom training in a way that might someday matter most.
"You can hope all you want that there's going to be a paramedic in your classroom with you, but there's not," Hardman said. "That teacher is that true first responder."
Teachers can contact Premier at 513-342-5840 to learn more about the classes.
