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Last updated on Friday, April 12, 2013
(STATEHOUSE) - The Indiana House has swept aside a controversial proposal to require an armed staffer in all Indiana schools.
The House conducted only brief debate before agreeing on a voice vote to drop the proposal to let schools designate a teacher or principal to carry a gun as a deterrent to possible school shooters. Instead, a school safety board will study the idea over the summer and issue a report in December.
Legislators in both parties applauded after the vote. The proposal authored by Representative Jim Lucas (R-Seymour) had sailed through two House committees. But House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) says Republicans agreed in caucus that the issue needs more than a couple of weeks' study to make sure all the potential consequences are understood.
The move clears the way for a vote on the original proposal to create a grant fund to help schools hire "resource officers" in charge of overseeing school safety plans, and working with students and police to keep schools safe from all threats, including gunmen.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller had urged legislators earlier this week to drop the gun requirement.
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