It was OK for teachers, school staff to have guns at campus. Now they can’t carry

Kingsburg Joint Union High School District teachers and administrators who have been carrying guns to class will not be allowed to do so starting Jan. 1.

It is already illegal for a person to carry a firearm in a school zone unless they have permission from the superintendent, but AB 424 – signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday – will “delete the authority” of the superintendent to grant such permission, banning guns on campuses entirely.

Kingsburg Joint Union was one of a handful of school districts in the state to have approved policies that allow employees to carry concealed weapons with the superintendent’s permission.

Last year, the school board voted unanimously to allow up to five district employees – designated by the superintendent – to carry a concealed firearm in a holster worn inside the pants, around the chest, on the front hip, at the ankle or behind the back.

Kingsburg Joint Union Superintendent Don Shoemaker said Monday he was disappointed in the new law.

“We’re disappointed as a district. Our board is disappointed for sure because we lose some local control. That’s one of the major issues,” he said. “Of course, we will follow the law.”

Shoemaker would not indicate how many employees currently carry concealed weapons on campus, saying “we don’t give the exact number because we’re concerned about anonymity.”

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 4:20 PM with the headline "It was OK for teachers, school staff to have guns at campus. Now they can’t carry."