Florida lawmakers take up school safety bill that would allow teachers to carry guns on campus

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - State lawmakers are taking up a school safety bill on Tuesday that would allow teachers to carry guns on campus. 

Under the proposal, teachers would have to undergo background checks and training. This is a follow-up to the safety law passed last year after the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. 

The people training right now will eventually watch over elementary and middle school students in Volusia County later this year. They will eventually replace deputies in schools so deputies can get back on the streets. 

Most of the trainees are retirees and have military backgrounds. 

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Volusia County Sheriff's Office Senior Deputy Jeffrey Wiles said that "hopefully they never have to use any of this stuff but if they were able to prevent or make a difference or something, that sends it all back home."

Thursday marks one year since 17 people were killed in the Marjory Stoneman High School shooting.