Colorado Teachers Receive Firearms Training

by
posted on June 29, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
si-news-2015-5-28-15.jpg (41)

Scholarships provided by Coloradans for Civil Liberties allowed a dozen educators in Colorado to attend a Faculty Administrator Safety Training & Emergency Response (FASTER) course earlier this month. The training includes mindset, medical and firearm segments and is tailored to enhance the school staff’s ability to act as a first responder in an emergency.

The Briggsdale School District voted to allow teachers and staff with a valid carry permit and additional training—other than law enforcement—to bring a gun onto school grounds in 2013. The Greeley Tribune, one of the state’s newspapers, covered the story and estimated, “…the response time for the sheriff's department to Briggsdale schools averages 20 minutes.”

Colorado’s Hanover School District 28 Board of Supervisors approved a similar measure in December, and “They [volunteers] all must undergo an initial 46 hours of training, including live-fire training, plus yearly training and undergo a psychological examination,” Fleming School Superintendent Steve McCracken told the Denver Post. Average law enforcement response time, according to the paper, is also 20 minutes.

This month’s training took place at a shooting range near Denver. Local police officer Graham Dunne helped during the sessions, and told National Public Radio, “To be realistic, from a police officer perspective, we simply are not going to be there in time.”

Teacher Kelly Blake, who attended the event because she wants to be able to protect her students, offered a different perspective. “I don’t have any children of my own, so these students are my children,” she said.

Coverage of the event by 9News, an NBC television affiliate, explains, “Under Colorado law, school staff members can carry concealed weapons in school so long as they have a permit and are designated as a security officer.”

The FASTER program was “Created by concerned parents, law enforcement, and nationally-recognized safety and medical experts…,” according to its website. Training exceeds the requirements of the Ohio State Peace Officer Training Academy and, “The purpose is not to replace police and EMT, but to allow teachers, administrators, and other personnel on-site to stop school violence rapidly and render medical aid immediately.”

Latest

Steelhead Outdoors Undercover Gun Safe
Steelhead Outdoors Undercover Gun Safe

First Look: Steelhead Outdoors Undercover Gun Safe

Keep your firearms secure and out of sight.

First Look: Mesa Tactical Pro Packages

Everything you need to upgrade your defensive shotgun.

Compressed Time

Time is a limited resource. Use it efficiently when you draw your pistol.

Review: Savage 110 Magpul Scout Rifle In 6.5 Creedmoor

Another version of Col. Jeff Cooper's ideal rifle.

First Look: New Knives from SIG Sauer And Eikonic

Ten different models are now available.

First Look: Ruger LCP Max With Thumb Safety

Add a little more peace of mind to a popular pocket pistol.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.