Lubbock Schools Considering Concealed Carry For Faculty, Staff

School officials in Lubbock and surrounding cities are considering allowing teachers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds.

With the December shooting in Newport, Connecticut, many school administrators across the nation are looking at new security measures to protect both students and teachers.

Trinity Christian School, a private school system in Lubbock, is now allowing teachers to carry on campus with a valid concealed handgun license.

Superintendent Rob Winkler of Trinity Christian School was not available for comments about the issue.

Administrators of Rise Academy in Lubbock are thinking about allowing teachers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds.

Superintendent Richard Baumgartner said nothing has been implemented yet. Baumgartner has a current concealed handgun license and carries a handgun on campus to protect his staff and students.

Rise Academy had a hostage situation in 2011, which ended with no injuries. After the incident, Baumgartner began looking for other options to protect the school’s inhabitants.

“According to the state law and Penal Code 46.03, school board members and government employees can carry a concealed handgun to specified individuals,” Baumgartner said.

Officials with Rise Academy have been in touch with those from Harold ISD, a school district that adopted a concealed handgun system for teachers. Baumgartner said it is up to the school board to determine which staff and faculty can carry on campus. He said it also depends on who is comfortable with the responsibility of carrying a concealed handgun on school grounds.

An article from the Associated Press said Sen. Brian Birdwell of Texas filed the Campus Personal Protection Act earlier this month. The act is also known as Senate Bill 182. The bill states a license holder may carry a concealed handgun on their person while on the campus of an institution of higher education.

The Texas Department of Public Safety website states in order to obtain a concealed handgun license, applicants must go through a program given by the DPS under the authority of the Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter H. Applicants must go through a criminal history background check and legibility must be maintained every year to keep the license valid.