Lieutenant Governor praises local heroes

January 21, 2013, 9:30 pm by Alexandria Randolph

Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst gives a message of Texan pride and perseverance during the Hill Country 100 Annual Meeting and Award Banquet Thursday.

Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, after presenting awards in Marble Falls on behalf of the Hill Country 100 Club to local first responders, stated that he was in support of faculty and teachers being allowed to carry concealed handguns at school with proper training.

"This state and I are strong, strong supporters of the right of law abiding Americans to exercise our second amendment rights. I have created in the last week a real stir by talking publicly about the fact that a lot of superintendent friends of mine in rural Texas who don’t have the budget to pay for police officers in the schools are concerned – as I am – about the safety of children in all our schools, particularly in schools in rural Texas where there (are not the number) of police officers you find in urban Texas,” he said. "I’ve been talking for a week about the fact that under Texas law, a school board can authorize school personnel – including teachers – to carry a concealed handgun on an anonymous basis. My point has been, as a believer in local control, if the school board wants to authorize (this) then we need to give robust training to them (teachers) so that there’s not an accidental discharge and the weapon is handled safely, and in case – God forbid – there’s an active shooter event, the individual can protect themselves and the children.”

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Highlander.