A Republican state senator has introduced legislation to let school employees carry guns. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the bill by Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort of Sandia Park would allow each school in the state to designate one employee to carry a concealed weapon.
In light of the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Beffort says she is concerned about copycat shootings. The issue, she says, is to stop a tragedy before it happens.
But Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, says Beffort's motion doesn't address school safety at all. She says teacher want to teach, not be designated shooters.
Several other state legislatures, including Texas, are considering similar options.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.