PB: Does Palmetto Bay Support Arming Teachers with Stun Guns?

by SDM

SDM will do something in today’s post that our dear readers have not seen very much: praise Mayor Shelley Stanczyk. But before we get to the Mayor, some background is in order.

The village council will meet on Monday night at its regularly monthly meeting. On that meeting’s agenda is the following item:

A resolution of the Mayor and Village Council of the Village of Palmetto Bay, Florida supporting House Bill 325 and 327; relating to creating the safe schools trust fund under section 1010.88, Florida Statutes, which funds shall be allocated to the various school districts to provide additional projects and program(s) to improve the safety of students while they are within school safety zones… [Sponsored by Mayor Shelley Stanczyk].

Now, you are not going to catch SDM failing to support the protection of children in school safety zones, but that is not the issue for which SDM is praising the Mayor. Here is the provision of HB 325 that SDM likes and is grateful to the Mayor for supporting:

(2)(a) A person may openly carry, for purposes of lawful self-defense:

1.  A self-defense chemical spray.

 2. A nonlethal stun gun or dart-firing stun gun or other nonlethal electric weapon or device that is designed solely for defensive purposes.

 (b) This subsection does not apply to a person, other than a school faculty or staff member, within a school safety zone as defined in s. 810.0975.

SDM could be wrong, but we read provision 2(b) as permitting a teacher to openly carry a stun gun at school. SDM would prefer that teachers and staff be allowed to carry concealed weapons under a permit, but this is at least a step in the right direction.

SDM Wonders: Who knew Mayor Stanczyk was an NRA member?

The bill has another interesting provision that allows a person to surrender a weapon to authorities so as to avoid being found in violation of the prohibitions on guns in school safety zones. This is another good idea that will help those who accidentally carry their firearms into a school zone.

SDM Says: Kudos to Mayor Stanczyk for arming our teachers and protecting those of us who regularly forget that we are armed.

About these ads