OKLAHOMA CITY — “I would call it a hole in our security policy,” said Rep. Mark McCullough (R- Sapulpa).
It’s an argument you could call a gun fight. McCullough brought the gun debate back to the forefront Thursday, He tacked on an amendment to an unrelated Senate bill to include the option of arming teachers in Oklahoma schools.
“It would be completely voluntary on part of the teacher and it would be completely voluntary on part of the district,” he said.
His proposal would allow districts to arm faculty volunteers. They would go through a specialized training course and be affiliated with the local law enforcement agency. He believes it’s a way for districts to make sure they’re not vulnerable. Especially in less populated, rural areas.
But people with the Oklahoma Public School District say the proposal needs to be stopped.
“A gun could be misplaced, a gun could be taken from a teacher. There could be confrontation,” said Deputy Superintendent Sandra Park.
She and other faculty members are not happy the idea is back on the table. They lobbied strongly against it the first time.
“Our desire is that our elected officials listen to us … when we say it’s not a good idea that we really have years of experience in  public education and we feel strongly about this,” she said.
She and other critics of the proposal point out the bipartisan task force appointed to examine school security issues did not recommend guns on campus. Four other bills related to school security were recommended and signed by the governor earlier this week.
McCullough tacked on the proposal to a bill by democratic Senator Susan Paddack. She released a statement saying she was surprised to see her bill amended to include such language. And continued by noting she does not expect the Senate to pass the amendment when it reaches their chamber.
The bill in question has to do with waiving certain training requirements for police officers on leave. The House voted to add the amendment, then passed the bill along with it.
Should it pass the entire state legislature, local gun ranges are jumping at the chance to teach the specialized classes.
“We don’t know what they’re going to come up with in their actual teaching. And whatever they do that’s what we’ll be teaching,” said Miles Hall with H & H Shooting Sports. He said he thinks all similar businesses will be interested in participating as an act of public service.
Despite opposition, McCullough says he thinks the amendment stands a chance.
“There’s four quarters in football. You play ‘til the last second and that’s what I’m gonna do here.