Texas School Safety Training Act Would Provide Active-Shooter Response Training

Teachers with a Concealed Handgun License could receive voluntary training on how to respond to an active shooter, including accuracy with a firearm under duress.

The Texas House passed SB 1857, the Texas School Safety Training Act, earlier this May. The bill empowers qualified Concealed Handgun License (CHL) instructors to earn a “school safety certification” that would allow them to train teachers to save lives should an active-shooter scenario occur inside a Texas school, the North Texas e-News reports.

The bill is now in front of Governor Rick Perry to await a signature.

Currently, school personnel are provided with little or no training in how to respond to an active shooter scenario. Under the Act, teachers would receive training on best practices for the protection of students, how to interact with first responders, tactics to deny an intruder entry into a classroom, and accuracy with a handgun under duress.

The enhanced training is voluntary and only available to teachers who already have their CHL, the report notes.