Columbus, Ohio – More than 110 Ohio school districts and independent schools have staff members authorized to carry firearms on school grounds, according to the Ohio School Safety Center.
The Ohio Capital Journal reported that, as of June 17, 116 districts and schools had armed staff members. The total includes more than 70 public school districts and 15 Christian schools, with many located in rural areas but some in suburban and urban communities.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 99 in 2022, allowing local school boards to decide whether staff can carry weapons. The law reduced required training from about 700 hours to at least 24 hours, though districts may require more…