A western Pennsylvania senator believes a law that would allow teachers to carry guns would help keep students safe until police arrive to handle violent outbreaks.

But an anti-gun mothers' group, educational lawyers, and others worry the plan may backfire, triggering more firearms injuries or even deaths.Local lawmakers, school administrators and police offered mixed reviews of the bill.Sen. Don White, R-Indiana County, is proposing SB1193, a bill that would allow school boards to decide whether to allow teachers and other staff who are trained and licensed to carry guns on school grounds. The bill is currently in the Senate Education Committee, and White doesn't expect action on it in this legislative session, which ends in November."I just think it's a sign of the times. Some people are repulsed by the thought of arming teachers. But when you think about it: who knows the kids or the structure of a school better than teachers or administrators?" he asked.White said staff in about 30 school districts in neighboring Ohio can carry guns under a similar law.How it would workAccording to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 235 of the state's 500 public school districts are rural.Many of those districts are served by state police. White said state police do an excellent job, but are understaffed and are called on to cover more and more territory.Having armed staff would curb violent incidents more quickly, White said.The bill would allow school boards to decide whether staff would carry guns, who could and could not carry them, and under what circumstances. They would be required to be licensed to carry a concealed weapon and be certified in the use and handling of firearms.How the billcame aboutWhite introduced SB1193 on Nov. 22, 2013. But it was a mass stabbing last spring at a school in his area that cemented his belief in the proposal.On April 9, Alex Hribal, a 17-year-old sophomore at Franklin Regional High school in Murrysville, Westmoreland County, wielding two knives, went on a slashing and stabbing rampage. Within minutes, 20 students and a security guard were injured, 12 seriously. Hribal, charged as an adult, awaits trial.White, along with Gov. Tom Corbett, visited the school soon after the incident."Afterward, on the ride home, I thought about how impressed I was at how fast the response was by police," White said."But that young man managed to stab 21 people in just under five minutes. The borough police were on the scene with in 2.5 minutes (after being called), yet he inflicted that much damage. With knives. Imagine if he had had an assault weapon."In July, White's bill to allow school districts in areas served only by state police to contract with local police departments to provide security was signed into law."But that's not necessarily the solution," he said.School officialsweigh inPanther Valley School District Superintendent Dennis Kergick encourages lawmakers to give the matter considerable thought."I have some fears and trepidation. I know that the Pennsylvania School Board Association has not necessarily advocated one way or the other, and that puts me at a loss as to how to make a decision. Student and staff safety is our primary concern, and only a few states have acted on (similar legislation)," he said."I don't think there's enough information for anybody to make a decision. Our chief mission is to educate people. I don't know if we want to take on the role of the person who has to make a snap judgment that may result in somebody's harm or even death," Kergick said."I think we look to find quick solutions to our problems. But there are no easy answers."Carbon Career and Technical Institute Administrative Director David Reinbold also believes more study is needed."It is obviously a serious and controversial proposal, with probably an equal number of pros and cons. A tremendous amount of research and discussion would need to be done before the decision would be made to allow school employees to carry guns. The proposal and the recent shooting at the Blooming Grove State Police Barracks will surely start or restart a dialogue on the issue," he said.Police views varyNesquehoning Police Chief Sean Smith's territory includes the Panther Valley School District."I believe if they are trained and are properly licensed they should be allowed to carry in their respective school and classrooms," he said. "I believe that they have the right to protect themselves, their students and other staff members until police arrive."In neighboring Jim Thorpe, Police Chief Joseph Schatz takes a different stance."They should leave it up to the police. One problem we find is that if we go into an active shooter situation and someone is standing there with a weapon, we don't necessarily know who it is. We don't know all the teachers in the building. Trained law enforcement is identifiable by their badge and/or uniform," he said.Schatz said the best solution is to have a school resource officer on duty."Then you have a police officer walking your halls," he said.