33 States That Allow Teachers to Carry Guns

Published: April 22, 2024 by 24/7 Tempo Staff

Every year, there are school shootings that result in injuries and fatalities, as reported in the K-12 School Shooting Database. Some of these incidents occurred before school started or on a school bus. Because of this, some schools and school systems have decided to let teachers and employees carry guns while they are at work in their schools.

24/7 Tempo has put together a list of states where teachers and school staff are allowed to carry firearms in public schools. We based our analysis on data from the Giffords Law Center, an organization dedicated to gun control advocacy and research, to determine which states allow teachers or other school employees to carry a firearm on school grounds. (Please note that in certain states, permissions can vary from one school district to another.

Data on firearm-related deaths in 2021 was sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information on school shooting incidents in each state from 1970 to 2023 came from K-12 School Shooting Database, which tracks comprehensive data on U.S. school shootings dating back to 1970.

Certain states allow for training teachers in firearms handling under specific conditions. However, opponents argue that teachers, not being trained law enforcement professionals, shouldn’t carry firearms in schools as it distracts from their primary role as educators.

Besides teachers, other school staff members may be authorized to carry guns. School marshals, like those in Texas, are school employees with a license to carry firearms, volunteering as school protectors. They must complete an 80-hour training program and pass a psychological exam before they can get access to a gun on campus.

Some states permit the assignment of a sentinel, who is not a law enforcement officer but serves to deter and respond quickly to attacks. South Dakota’s school sentinel program requires participants to complete 80 hours of training.

In Florida, school guardians are armed individuals trained to intervene during threats on school grounds. They can be school staff volunteering for this role or hired specifically as guardians. To assume this responsibility, guardians must pass psychological and drug screenings, and complete at least 144 hours of training. (Here is a list of the number of school shootings every year since 1980.)

Here are 33 states that let teachers carry guns:

Alaska

Source: tiero / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 25.2 per 100,00 people – 6th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 6

Arizona

Source: Kzollman / Wikimedia Commons

Teachers can carry guns when used in a program approved by the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can sometimes carry guns when used in a program approved by the school
School employees can carry guns when used in a program approved by the school
2021 gun death rate: 18.3 per 100,00 people – 17th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 25

Arkansas

Source: gnagel / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns if private and religious schools grant CCW (concealed weapons) permittees permission to carry on school grounds
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees carry guns if private and religious schools grant CCW (concealed weapons) permittees permission to carry on school grounds
2021 gun death rate: 23.3 per 100,00 people – 8th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 34

Colorado

Source: Lisa-Blue / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns in certain circumstances
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns in certain circumstances
2021 gun death rate: 17.8 per 100,00 people – 18th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 36

Connecticut

Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 6.7 per 100,00 people – 6th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 25

Delaware

Source: kali9 / E+ / Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with a concealed carry permit
School employees can carry guns
2021 gun death rate: 16.6 per 100,00 people – 23rd highest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 16

Florida

Source: AliquisNJ / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns as part of the school guardian program
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns as part of the school guardian program
2021 gun death rate: 14.1 per 100,00 people – 17th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal (effective July 1, 2023)
School shootings since 1970: 134

Georgia

Source: Courtesy of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology via Facebook

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 20.3 per 100,00 people – 14th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 85

Idaho

Source: StellaMc / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school district
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school district
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school district
2021 gun death rate: 16.3 per 100,00 people – 25th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 8

Indiana

Source: kali9 / E+ via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 18.4 per 100,00 people – 16th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 51

Iowa

Source: stevegeer / E+ via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 11.2 per 100,00 people – 11th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 19

Kansas

Source: praetorianphoto / Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 17.3 per 100,00 people – 21st highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 21

Kentucky

Source: Wdzinc / Wikimedia Commons

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 21.1 per 100,00 people – 13th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 30

Massachusetts

Source: kali9 / Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 3.4 per 100,00 people – the lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 24

Michigan

Source: dgaken / Flickr

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 15.4 per 100,00 people – 23rd lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 100

Minnesota

Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 10.0 per 100,00 people – 9th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 26

Missouri

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school or the district
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns if the person is a licensed “corporate security advisor”
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 23.2 per 100,00 people – 9th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 50

Montana

Source: skynesher / E+ via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 25.1 per 100,00 people – 7th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 10

Nevada

Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 19.8 per 100,00 people – 15th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 21

New Hampshire

Source: kali9 / E+ via Getty Images

Teachers cancarry guns
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns
2021 gun death rate: 8.3 per 100,00 people – 7th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 8

New Jersey

Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 5.2 per 100,00 people – 3rd lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 26

New Mexico

Source: Mathieu LE MAUFF / Getty Images

Most teachers cannot carry guns
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
Most school employees cannot carry guns
2021 gun death rate: 27.8 per 100,00 people – 3rd highest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 22

Ohio

Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission, background check, and required training.
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission, background check, and required training.
2021 gun death rate: 16.5 per 100,00 people – 24th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 109

Oklahoma

Source: JTGrafix / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns in some circumstances
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the board of education
School employees can carry guns in some circumstances
2021 gun death rate: 21.2 per 100,00 people – 12th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 23

Oregon

Source: eb33 / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with a concealed carry license
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with a concealed carry license
School employees can carry guns with a concealed carry license
2021 gun death rate: 14.9 per 100,00 people – 21st lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 31

Pennsylvania

Source: CynthiaAnnF / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns in some circumstances
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns in some circumstances
School employees can carry guns in some circumstances
2021 gun death rate: 14.8 per 100,00 people – 20th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 109

South Carolina

Source: Charles Bramlett / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 22.4 per 100,00 people – 11th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
School shootings since 1970: 48

South Dakota

Source: Phil Mislinski / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns if the person is a school sentinel
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns if the person is a school sentinel
School employees can carry guns if the person is a school sentinel
2021 gun death rate: 14.3 per 100,00 people – 18th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 4

Tennessee

Source: Nicholas Nace / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Teachers cannot carry guns in most public schools, but they can in private schools with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns
School employees cannot carry guns in most public schools, but they can in private schools with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 22.8 per 100,00 people – 10th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 81

Texas

Source: gradyreese / E+ via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns if the person is a designated school marshal
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns if the person is a designated school marshal
School employees can carry guns if the person is a designated school marshal
2021 gun death rate: 15.6 per 100,00 people – 24th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 198

Utah

Source: Grant Handy / Wikimedia Commons

Teachers can carry guns with a concealed carry permit
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with a concealed carry permit
School employees can carry guns with a concealed carry permit
2021 gun death rate: 13.9 per 100,00 people – 16th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 21

Vermont

Source: Valerie Macon/Getty Images

Source: Benjamin Clapp / iStock via Getty Images

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school
2021 gun death rate: 11.9 per 100,00 people – 13th lowest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 5

Wyoming

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Teachers can carry guns with permission from the school district
Non-law-enforcement school security personnel can carry guns with permission from the school district
School employees can carry guns with permission from the school district
2021 gun death rate: 26.1 per 100,00 people – 5th highest
Permitless concealed carry: Legal
School shootings since 1970: 2