Teachers could earn $10K more yearly for carrying firearms under Georgia lieutenant governor's proposed legislation

Georgia teachers could be paid an additional $10,000 per year to carry firearms at school under the state's lieutenant governor's proposed legislation, the Associated Press reported.

Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R), Senator Max Burns (R), and Senator Clint Dixon (R) announced new legislation on Wednesday that prioritizes increasing school safety.

A press release from Jones explained that the proposed bill would be introduced during the 2024 legislative session and that it "build[s] on the reforms the General Assembly has made in recent years around safety training for teachers, school safety plans, and the ability of local school systems to determine for themselves whether teachers should be permitted to carry firearms as a safety measure on campus."

"The proposed program would be an opt-in measure by the teachers and school system," the press release added.

Teachers who volunteer to participate in the program could receive a $10,000 annual stipend after undergoing required firearms training. If the legislation passes, it will ultimately be up to local school boards to decide whether to implement the program.

Jones claimed that the proposed bill would help to protect Georgia's children.

"This legislation and associated state funding will ensure that our school systems and teachers have the necessary resources and training to increase safety across Georgia. Systems and individuals will have the option of participating in the training, certification, and stipend, and we hope that the General Assembly will support these efforts to build on recent school safety reforms," he stated.

Burns called the legislation "another tool to enhance school safety," noting that protecting children is the lawmakers' "first responsibility."

"Using existing, volunteer employees, we can leverage the current use of School Resource Officers (SROs) and make our schools more safe and secure," Burns explained.

Dixon echoed Burns' statements, remarking that protecting students is a "top priority." He noted that the legislation will "further strengthen school safety" by ensuring teachers are "more equipped to handle security threats" and "school are even more prepared for emergency situations."

The proposed legislation will also expand grant programs, allowing schools to hire more school resource officers with police certification.

Some critics, including the Georgia Association of Educators, do not believe teachers should be allowed to carry firearms in schools.

Georgia Association of Educators president Lisa Morgan told the AP, "We are not there to serve as law enforcement, and introducing more firearms into the school is not a way to solve the problem of violence in our schools."

Morgan suggested Jones draft legislation allowing schools to hire more counselors to boost safety instead.

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