Van ISD Voted To Allow Employees To “Pack Heat”

VAN — The Van Independent School District has become the second East Texas school district and the third in the state to allow authorized faculty to carry firearms on campus. According to a press release from the district, �Board-authorized specific school employees and other persons� will be allowed �to possess certain firearms on school property, at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events, and at board meetings.�

According to KETK, the district�s campuses are spread across the city, northwest of Tyler, and, according to the statement, there was concern of effective and timely response to emergency situation. The district�s new policy states that only school employees who have a current license to carry a concealed handgun would be eligible to carry on campus. Last Thursday, administrators at Union Grove ISD, a rural Upshur county district, approved a similar measure to allow select, licensed and trained teachers and administrators to have a firearm on campus.