JEFFERSON CITY — The House passed a bill along party lines Wednesday that would create a training program to place “Missouri Rangers” in schools. Under the bill’s provisions, a school could choose to hire a trained ranger and would have control over what kind of weapons they use.
Under Senate Bill 905, sponsored by Sen. David Gregory, R-St. Louis, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission would oversee and create the program, which must include training on combat, first aid and de-escalation. Republicans said the program would be beneficial for rural areas that see long response times.
“It allows schools or districts, if they choose, it’s optional, to place highly trained rangers on campus with narrow law enforcement powers to provide additional protection for our schools,” said Rep. Mike Jones, R-Kansas City, who handled the bill in the House.
Many House Democrats pushed back against the bill’s intention to decrease gun violence in schools, raising concerns that armed guards in schools may not be the solution. Republicans said the program would be fully optional and used only by schools that want to hire Missouri Rangers.
Other Democrats said that if a ranger were to be put in schools, they should be trained on adolescent psychology and have stricter background checks that look for conditions such as PTSD.
“When we’re writing a bill about creating a position for people to be in schools, why wouldn’t we require that they have some understanding of how to deal with children?” said Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia.
Others questioned the fiscal means of such a program because schools that opt in would be responsible for the rangers’ salaries. Republicans said that rangers could be hired as volunteers without the need for salary costs.
The provisions of the bill were also included in an omnibus public safety bill passed out of the Senate on Wednesday. The Senate’s bill now returns to the House for confirmation.