Upon Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s signing of a law Friday, South Dakota appears to be the first state to allow teachers to carry guns in the classroom. Gun laws in some other states include provisions that enable teachers to arm themselves under certain conditions. A number of states are considering bills similar to the one passed by South Dakota.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The New York Times:

About two dozen states have proposed similar bills since the shootings in December at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., but all of them have stalled.

Supporters say that the measure signed by Mr. Daugaard, a Republican, is important in a rural state like South Dakota, where some schools are many miles away from emergency responders.

Opponents, which have included the state school board association and teachers association, say this is a rushed measure that does not make schools safer.

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