In schools this year, there have been 271 shootings resulting in 166 injuries, including fatalities, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. Most of them occurred before school, on a school bus. (This is a list of the number of school shootings every year since 1980.)
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of states that allow teachers and school employees to carry guns on the grounds of public schools. We gathered information from the Giffords Law Center, an advocacy and research organization focused on promoting gun control, as to which states allow teachers or other school employees to carry a firearm on school grounds. (Note that in some states, permission to carry can vary by district.)
Firearm mortality data for 2021 came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of school shooting incidents in each state between 1970 and 2023 came from K-12 School Shooting Database, which tracks U.S. school shootings dating back to 1970 by compiling all available data on the subject.
Some states make provisions in certain circumstances for gun-training teachers, though critics of teachers carrying firearms on school premises claim that they are not trained law enforcement professionals, and that bearing firearms in the school detracts from their mission as educators. (These are America’s 50 best places for teachers.)
In addition to teachers, other personnel may be granted permission to carry a gun. School marshals, such as those in Texas, are school employees with a license to carry a firearm who volunteer as school protectors. They must undergo an 80-hour training and psychological exam before they can get access to a gun on campus.
Some states allow for the presence of a sentinel, who is not a law enforcement officer. The sentinel is present to provide deterrence and immediate response to an attack. The course for South Dakota’s school sentinel program involves 80 hours of training.
School guardians, such as those in Florida, are armed personnel who aid in stopping assailants on school grounds. They’re either school employees who volunteer to serve in addition to their job duties or are personnel hired for the purpose of serving as a guardian. Guardians must pass psychological and drug screenings, and complete at least 144 hours of training.
Alaska
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, when used in a program approved by the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Maybe, when used in a program approved by the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Private and religious schools can grant CCW (concealed weapons) permittees permission to carry on school grounds
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Private and religious schools can 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, in certain circumstances
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with a concealed carry permit
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes
> 2021 gun death rate: 16.6 per 100,00 people – 23rd highest
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> School shootings since 1970: 16
Florida
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, as part of the school guardian program
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school or the district
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, if the person is a licensed “corporate security advisor”
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, with permission from the school or the district
> 2021 gun death rate: 23.2 per 100,00 people – 9th highest
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal
> School shootings since 1970: 50
Montana
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, with permission from the school district
> 2021 gun death rate: 25.1 per 100,00 people – 7th highest
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal
> School shootings since 1970: 10
Nevada
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes
> 2021 gun death rate: 8.3 per 100,00 people – 7th lowest
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal
> School shootings since 1970: 8
New Jersey
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Mostly no
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Mostly no
> 2021 gun death rate: 27.8 per 100,00 people – 3rd highest
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> School shootings since 1970: 22
Ohio
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission, background check, and required training.
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: In some circumstances
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the board of education
> May other school employees 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with a concealed carry license
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with a concealed carry license
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: In some circumstances
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: In some circumstances
> May other school employees 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, if the person is a school sentinel
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, if the person is a school sentinel
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: No in most public schools; yes, with permission from the school, for private schools
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes
> May other school employees carry guns? No in most public schools; yes, with permission from the school, for private schools
> 2021 gun death rate: 22.8 per 100,00 people – 10th highest
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal
> School shootings since 1970: 81
Texas
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, if the person is a designated school marshal
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, if the person is a designated school marshal
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with a concealed carry permit
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with a concealed carry permit
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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
> May teachers carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May non-law-enforcement school security personnel carry guns?: Yes, with permission from the school district
> May other school employees carry guns? Yes, 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