The US state of South Dakota has enacted a law allowing school districts to arm teachers and other school staff.

Governor. Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1087 into law on Friday, HB1087 – provides for the creation of school sentinel programs and for the training of school sentinels

enabling state school boards to “supervise the arming of school employees” or hire security personnel.

South Dakota is believed to be the first U.S. state to sign such legislation into law.

The law’s backers say it will prevent mass school shootings like a December massacre in Connecticut that killed 26.

Amid a push by the White House to strengthen gun laws, the bill reflects a growing divide in the US over whether more or fewer guns keep people safe.

The law does not force school districts to arm teachers and will not require teachers to carry guns.

But it allows each school district to choose if staff could be armed. It takes effect from  July 2013.

Under the Republican-sponsored bill, school staff who are  given permission to carry firearms on campus will be known as “school sentinels”.

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The state has given a law enforcement commission the task of establishing a training programme for the sentinels.

Several representatives of school boards, teachers and other staff spoke against the bill in legislative hearings, arguing guns would make schools more dangerous.

But sponsor Representative Scott Craig said this week had heard from a number of school officials who back it.

Mr Craig said rural districts do not have the money to hire full-time police officers.

source:Armed teachers allowed in South Dakota schools