Duval County School Board weighs allowing guns in vehicles on campuses

The Duval County School Board is considering a policy change that would let employees, contractors, parents and other staff leave firearms inside their parked vehicles on school grounds. Right now, the district's rules treat that as a possible misdemeanor. Florida law permits storing guns in cars on school property, but lets districts opt out, and Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties have all chosen to do so.

The proposal would require firearms to be kept "securely encased," which the article says could include an unlocked glove box. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, meanwhile, advises owners not to leave guns in vehicles. Its figures indicate 388 firearms were taken from vehicles so far this year through Oct. 7, compared with 330 last year. A gun store owner said secure storage matters because thefts can happen, though he described them as rare in his experience.

Supporters argue an armed person nearby could stop an attacker, citing an Oregon case in which police said a bystander responded after hearing gunfire. One supporter said monitored security systems could let someone intervene early. Katie Hathaway, a parent who says the proposal is helping drive her City Council campaign, opposes the change and criticized the board chair for moving too fast without input from families and educators. The board is divided, and the earliest possible vote is Nov. 9. The outlet said it asked all seven members and the sheriff for their views and had not heard back.