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SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (AP) — Teachers got free concealed weapons training during a Utah Education Association event break.
Attendees could apply for a concealed weapons permit for $49 after Friday's training. Utah allows permitted concealed weapons in public schools, the Deseret News reported (http://bit.ly/1GM8huK).
Utah Shooting Sports Council chairman Clark Aposhian says he's trained educators since the early 2000s.
"A shooter who wants to end his life via suicide but take a whole bunch of other people with him, probably wants to pick a place to exact that evil plan without getting return fire," Aposhian said. "We are hoping to show that Utah schools and universities are not a place to do that."
Salt Lake County elementary teacher Janette Pocock said someone with a gun can respond in equal measure to a shooter who breaks into a classroom.
"Crises happen," Pocock said. "It's one thing to hide and be quiet, but there are times when people break into those classrooms, and if you have a gun, you're more likely to be able to handle that at the same level as the shooter than if you are just covered by chairs."
Retired elementary educator Malinda Lund pointed to an incident last year when a teacher went to the hospital after her concealed weapon accidentally fired in a school bathroom.
"Teachers have so much other training to undergo," she said. "They just aren't equipped to handle firearms."
Jordan elementary school teacher Shannon Diotaivti said more weapons on campus increase the potential that innocent people will be hurt.
"I just think about how much I love those kids and what could happen to them," she said. "What if you forget to lock the gun up?"
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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
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