Ohio House passes bill that excuses schools, teachers from liability for gun accidents
Source: McClatchy News
Ohio House passes bill that excuses schools, teachers from liability for gun accidents
By DOUG LIVINGSTON AND DAVE SCOTT
Akron Beacon Journal January 25, 2014
AKRON, Ohio A month after a local police officer and decorated combat veteran accidentally discharged his firearm in a school, the Ohio House passed legislation Wednesday that would remove liability for schools that make closed-door decisions about arming teachers.
Current Ohio law allows private and public schools to permit teachers to carry guns. It's a local decision. The proposed law would allow them to decide in private who can be armed and protect schools from liability issues if there is an accident.
State education officials currently do not track which schools have armed educators, nor does the Attorney General's Office, although school safety plans filed with the AG's office might include information on who in a school may have a weapon. The bill still makes that a voluntary disclosure, which means a police officer responding to an emergency might not know who in the school is carrying a weapon.
Those safety plans are not public records.
The bill, moved from the House to the Senate on Wednesday, adds a requirement that employees authorized to carry a firearm undergo training provided by the Attorney General's Office, which did not participate in crafting the House bill.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/01/25/215765/ohio-house-passes-bill-that-excuses.html#storylink=cpy
elfin
(6,262 posts)By careless gun handling by the armed adult - is that an "accident?"
This is horrible.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)To others it is negligence.
Either way, it is the fault of the shooter, not the fault of the school, if the shooter is not acting appropriately.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)spartan61
(2,091 posts)there would be no accidental shootings and, thus, no need for this bill. If the teachers are armed, would they be the "good guy with a gun" and not the "bad guy with a gun?" Is Ohio serious?
billh58
(6,635 posts)Mr. Peepers gets to pack heat, and oopsies don't count. What could possibly go wrong...?
msongs
(67,405 posts)friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)valerief
(53,235 posts)jsr
(7,712 posts)louis-t
(23,295 posts)petronius
(26,602 posts)Sec. 3314.43. A community school, community school governing authority, member of a community school governing authority, and community school employee who is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in a school safety zone pursuant to a school safety plan adopted under section 3313.536 of the Revised Code are not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from the employee's possession or use of the handgun in the school safety zone in compliance with the school safety plan unless the injury, death, or loss resulted from the employee's reckless or wanton conduct.
Sec. 3326.28. A STEM school, member of a STEM school governing body, and STEM school employee who is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in a school safety zone pursuant to a school safety plan adopted under section 3313.536 of the Revised Code are not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly arising from the employee's possession or use of the handgun in the school safety zone in compliance with the school safety plan unless the injury, death, or loss resulted from the employee's reckless or wanton conduct.