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Former police officers allowed to carry guns in Virginia schools under new bill

Posted at 3:57 PM, Mar 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-17 22:42:15-04

Armed former police officers may be patrolling the halls of your child's school next fall.

Governor McAuliffe signed a bill this week that allows former officers who have been retired less than ten years to be hired as armed school security guards.

For the most part, guns are not allowed on school property, but the new law allows the former officers to be armed while working at school.

The Governor vetoed a similar bill last year, but this year's bill contains additional training requirements.

It easily passed the General Assembly and the Governor signed it without fanfare on Monday.

Mike McKenna with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and retired Norfolk Police Officer says he thinks bringing in former officers will make schools safer.

"A lot of these police officers that are retired can think before they act so I think you`ll see a lot less incidents involving guns," he said.

The new law takes effect July 1.