(EMPORIA, Kan.) — In the wake of the massacre at an elementary school in Connecticut, the Emporia School District has approved placing armed guards in schools.
The proposal was first introduced in October. Emporia has 11 schools. There are already full and part-time officers at middle and high school. Both are retired police officers who are licensed and trained to use guns.
Board members say arming security guards is just one part a larger security plan. The measure was approved by a 6-0 vote. The district says it hasn't had any major security issues, but board members say they want to proactive instead of reactive.
The National Rifle Association has proposed putting an armed guard in every school in the country. The organization made the proposal last month after a gunman killed 27 people, including 20 children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
A poll released Wednesday found 50 percent of those surveyed opposed the idea while 41 percent of registered voters support it.
