Teachers in Colorado are receiving gun training as they look to protect students in classrooms, KUSA television in Denver reported.
"In a nutshell, it is training for teachers and other school staff who are armed first responders in their schools," said Laura Carno, founder of Coloradans for Civil Liberties.
Carno's organization paid for 17 staff members from Colorado schools to receive the lessons, according to KUSA.
The program is aimed for staffs at mostly rural schools, where law enforcement is sometimes 30-45 minutes away, the television station reported.
"They are their own first responders," Carno said.
The actual training started on Tuesday and is provided by Faster, an Ohio organization motivated by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, Colorado's KRDO-TV said.
The trainees have concealed carry permits, according to the television station, and they are designated by their school districts to act as volunteer security personnel in an emergency.
But one of those providing training told the group: "Some of you may have to decide whether violating a local gun law outweighs ignoring it to save lives."
But Carno said it is all perfectly legal.
"There's been a provision in the law for years that allows this but it's the first time we've taken it this far," she said. "Many people aren't aware that is it legal."
Ronnie Wilson, one of those receiving training, is starting a charter school for 700 students next fall.
"I'm here to learn everything I can about school safety and security," he said. "Crisis management is important. You have to be ready for when something happens, not if. I don't know how parents feel about it, but I know they expect a response to any threat against their kids."
Carno told The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs the training offers teachers and other personnel the chance to protect students.
"People want a fighting chance," she said.
Carno noted there are 20 people on a waiting list for the next training session, KRDO reported.
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