Ohio state governor Mike DeWine signed legislation this Monday that authorizes a pilot program allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools. Law 99 sets a framework for training, requiring a minimum of four hours and a maximum of 24 hours, a significant reduction from the 700 hours previously expected for classroom carry.
DeWine noted that the administration worked with the General Assembly to strip out hundreds of hours not directly tied to school safety and to tighten the training focus so it happens in a school setting. He described the agreement as aligning instruction with real school needs and as a practical step toward preparedness in today’s education environment. This perspective was echoed in discussions reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
The norm, which does not mandate a fixed minimum training, was approved by a Republican-led Ohio Legislature and is optional for districts. It will be up to each school district to decide whether to implement the program.
At least four of the 24 training hours are designated as scenario based, involving simulated exercises. The program does not specify that real firearms will be used during this tactical training. Participants who carry weapons will undergo an annual background check.
The law also calls for a maximum of eight hours of annual training updates and the creation of the Ohio Center for Crisis and School Safety to support ongoing school safety efforts.
Previously, a teacher who wished to carry a gun needed to be designated as a peace officer and accumulate more than 700 hours of training. In contrast, a police officer typically receives around 60 hours of firearms training, with approximately 46 hours conducted on the range.
The bill was advanced with broad bipartisan support in principle, receiving 54 votes from Republicans and 31 from Democrats, while two Republicans voted against it and about a dozen legislators did not cast a vote.
Critics from groups such as Mothers for Accountability, Mothers Demand Action, the Ohio Education Association, and the Ohio Fraternity Police Service warned that the policy could increase risks in schools and undermine safety.
Opponents argued that parents and community members want stronger background checks rather than expanded gun access in schools. Democratic state representative Juanita Brent remarked that many in society, including mothers and children, prefer tighter controls to more guns in school settings.
Advocates for the policy, including Buckeye Firearms Association, stressed that rapid response to an active threat can save lives. Spokesperson Rob Sexton emphasized the belief that speed in addressing an emergency contributes to safer outcomes over time.
The broader national debate on gun possession, following the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two educators, continues to shape local and state policy discussions across the country.