South Dakota Passes Bill Authorizing Armed Volunteers in Schools

Leaves the final decision to school districts

A proposal to let schools arm volunteer "sentinels" for defense passed the South Dakota Senate Wednesday and could be headed to Gov. Dennis Daugaard's desk.

The school sentinels bill gives every school district the option to arm teachers, staff or community volunteers, but doesn't require any district to bring guns into schools.

That permissiveness was the key selling point of the proposal's supporters.

"The sentinel bill will not put one single gun in any school in South Dakota," said Sen. Craig Tieszen, R-Rapid City and the former Rapid City police chief. "Only a local school board can make that decision."