HARROLD, TX -- Last week's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that left 28 dead, including 20 children, has sparked safety concerns in schools across the country. However, one Texas school district says they already have a plan in place for such incidents and are standing by their policy of allowing teachers to pack heat.
Harrold Independent School District is located in the rural community of Harrold, about 35 miles northwest of Witchita Falls. They've allowed their teachers to carry guns since 2008, stating the closest first responders are 30 minutes away.
"Virgina Tech was nine minutes," said Harrold ISD Superintendent David Thweatt. "Fort Hood was three minutes. This one the other day (Newtown), I think, was under four minutes. Police cannot respond during that time. You have to do something to protect you at the source."
Only a certain group of teachers carry the guns at the school, which has a little more than 100 students. Thweatt said he doesn't disclose which teachers do for safety concerns. He also said the teachers go through extensive testing and psychological exams before they're selected as a possible candidate for the guns.
