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Firearms remain at the center of the school safety debate as gun control and the prospect of arming school personnel garner national attention. Although it is only a small fraction of the school safety discussion, states continue to examine K-12 firearms statutes. The vast majority of states generally prohibit firearms in K-12 schools; however, almost all make some exception to their laws. The table below captures state statutes allowing and prohibiting firearms on K-12 grounds.
Guns in Schools
Which States Allow Firearms on K-12 School Grounds?
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Anyone with permission from school authority
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19 States: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Vermont
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Concealed carry license holders
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CC permit alone: Alabama, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah
CC permit and permission from school authority: Idaho, Indiana, Missouri
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School employees (other than security)
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CC permit and permission from school authority: Idaho, Kansas, Wyoming
Permission from school authority and completed required training: Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee (only in qualifying districts), Texas, South Dakota
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School security
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21 States: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia
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Only students prohibited
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New Hampshire
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No relevant statute
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Hawaii
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Law enforcement
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44 States: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
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Allowing School Employees to Carry Firearms
At least nine states—Idaho, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming—specifically list school employees as exempt from their ban on firearms on K-12 school grounds. All of these states require a school employee to first get approval from a school authority such as the school board or superintendent. Three states—Idaho, Kansas and Wyoming—also require school employees to be concealed carry permit holders. Four additional states—Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and South Dakota—also require school employees to complete training programs, typically provided by a local law enforcement agency.
Florida SB 7026, the comprehensive school safety legislation enacted in response to the events in Parkland, created a unique program—among a number of other provisions—that, according to one legislative staff summary:
“[A]llows school districts to decide whether to participate in the school guardian program if it is available in their county. A school guardian must complete 132 hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training, 12 hours of diversity training, pass a psychological evaluation, and initial drug test and subsequent random drug tests. No teacher will be required to participate. In fact, the legislation provides that personnel that are strictly classroom teachers with no other responsibilities cannot participate, with specified exceptions.”
For more information on broader state gun laws, contact the NCSL Criminal Justice Program.
Benjamin Erwin is a Research Analyst with the Education Program.