In light of the recent STEM school shooting and the 20 year history of school shootings in Colorado and across the nation, we are insisting, in the strongest of terms, that you vote to authorize faculty and staff at all D20 school facilities to receive training and to carry a concealed firearm while they are on school property. This authorization would require the following:

1. Faculty and staff must volunteer to carry concealed. No one will be required to carry concealed at any time.

2. Those who volunteer must already be concealed carry permit holders in good standing.

3. Volunteers must submit to a stringent background check (mental health may be included in this evaluation).

4. Volunteers will be required to attend rigorous and ongoing training that covers the following areas:

a) Mindset training in confronting an armed killer

b) Identifying a threat

c) Neutralizing a threat

d) Marksmanship training that adheres to law enforcement standards

e) Communicating and coordinating with law enforcement and other armed personnel in the building

e) Medical training for treating the wounded and keeping them stable until medical professionals can take over

History has shown that being in an urban area with law enforcement minutes away does nothing to prevent an attack and does very little to end an attack before it turns deadly. While a multi-layer approach to security is the most effective, there is a gap as to the issue of what and who is being put between our children and bullets. It is unacceptable for children to be gunned down in our schools. Please vote to give our teachers and staff the means to protect themselves and our children.