Bill in legislature would allow guns at private schools

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — There’s been a lot of talk about how to make public schools safer in the wake of the shooting in Connecticut late last year. Now some North Carolina lawmakers are working to make private schools safer.

A Senate bill filed this week would give administrators in private schools the power to allow weapons on school grounds. The administrator and governing body could give written approval to anyone trained and with a permit to carry a gun, teargas or a stun gun.

The bill applies to private and church schools.

Supporters expect the bill to make private schools safer and parents more comfortable. Parents at Wilmington Christian Academy agree.

“In the past few years with school shootings and stuff, I have been kind of concerned that there really is not any security,” said Christina Sullivan, a mother of four students at WCA. “There are security measures in place at our school, but if an intruder came in, there is no way anybody could protects themselves. The intruder would have the gun, and nobody else would.”

Sullivan says if the administrator is in the position to educate her children, he should also have the power to protect them.

But some parents say a weapon could still end up in the wrong hands. Jason Augst, who also has kids at Wilmington Christian Academy, is not quick to support a change.

“It’s not difficult to get a concealed weapons permit if you have a clear background and can pay the fees and take the class,” said Augst.

The bill now heads to a Senate committee for consideration.