Legislation that would allow school security officers to be armed with stun guns, pepper spray and similar weapons is advancing in the General Assembly.
Security officers are not sworn law enforcement officers and are not allowed to be armed under current law.
Del. Mark Cole, a Spotsylvania County Republican, introduced the measure. He says he wants school security officers to be better equipped to respond in the event of an armed intruder, reported the Washington Times.
"Opponents, including Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s administration, say they worry that stun guns and other such weapons could be turned against students. They also point out that Cole’s bill includes no training requirement," said the Washington Times.
The bill has passed the House of Delegates and was approved Monday on a 3-2 party-line vote by a Republican-controlled Senate subcommittee.
