Hesperia Lawmaker Backs Bill To Fund Firearms Training For Teachers

HESPERIA (CBSLA.com) — A Southern California lawmaker was expected Wednesday to introduce legislation that would help train teachers and other school personnel on how to safely carry weapons on campus as a deterrent against school shootings.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Hesperia) was expected to introduce a "School Marshal Plan" - similar to the air marshals plan in place for commercial aviation - that would allow educators to pay for firearms training for teachers, janitors, and school administrators.

KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports Donnelly's legislation will compete with an array of other proposals that include expanding background checks and limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines.

The Republican lawmaker known for his support of the Constitutional right to bear arms drafted the legislation after last month's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Donnelly was cited earlier last January for trying to bring a loaded handgun onto a Sacramento-bound flight. In a statement released by his office, Donnelly said he forgot to remove the gun from his bag.

During an appearance on a Christian talk radio show earlier this month, Donnelly criticized President Obama for his support of an assault weapons ban, saying guns are "absolutely essential to living the way God intended for us to live."

Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento dismissed the proposal as "ludicrous".

"I don't know of any teacher or administrator that is interested in packing a gun," said State Senator Leland Yee. "As someone who has spent 10 years in the schools, the classrooms, no educator in their right mind would ever want to have administration or teachers packing."