JeffCo school officials don't support bill to arm school staff

Jefferson County educators are not supporting arming teachers and principals as a way to increase school security.

Arab Sen. Kerry Rich suggested training and arming educators as an alternative way to protect Alabama schools. This comes in wake of the murders of students and teachers in Newtown, Conn. A number of superintendents question the idea.

'"My sense today we should take care of them rather than asking them to take care of themselves and they should not be armed," Pattie Neill, Trussville superintendent, said.

Many of the superintendents believe increased law enforcement should be provided against a possible active shooter.

"We want trained peace officers, security officers to handle those weapons and to make those type of decisions," Craig Witherspoon, Birmingham superintendent, said.

Spencer Collier, the Director of Alabama Department of Homeland Security, addressed the group. Collier says he will carry out the will of the legislature but he says he even trained law enforcement officers are at risk during an assault.

"Twenty-two percent of police officers that are fatally assaulted are killed with their own weapon," Collier said.

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