Teachers Allowed To Kill Students Under New Law Presented: H.B. 868 Protects Teachers In Texas

A new law being introduced in Texas would allow teachers to kill students. The latest incidences involving students violently attacking teachers in classrooms is causing at least one lawmaker to consider tougher laws that better protect educators from serious injury or death.

As RT reports, students attacking teachers of late have brandished weapons, such as knives, to use against teachers. If they aren’t being threatened with death, they’re being viciously assaulted. Dangerous situations like this has prompted Republican State Representative Dan Flynn to introduce H.B. 868, the “Teacher’s Protection Act.”

The act provides public school teachers legal power to use force they deem necessary to protect themselves and others on school property.

This bill would allow teachers to use physical force, even deadly physical force if needed, when a student presents a very real danger to the teachers themselves or another student. Essentially, this would allow teachers to kill students if their violence warrants it.

Flynn introduced the bill on January 22 to the state legislature.

“… An educator is justified in using force or deadly force on school property, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored event in defense of the educator’s person or in defense of students of the school that employs the educator if, under the circumstances as the educator reasonably believes them to be, the educator would be justified … in using force or deadly force, as applicable, in defense of the educator or students.”

If H.B 868 is approved, Rep. Flynn’s law would legally back teachers and school staff who make judgment calls in striking — or killing — a student they perceive as a serious threat at school or on a school bus. Teachers would also be granted civil immunity, which means teachers wouldn’t be legally responsible for the injury or death of a student in class.

Flynn says it’s time for a bill of this magnitude to be enforced.

“It’s plain and simple; we have teachers who are afraid to defend themselves. I think it’s a timely piece of legislation to help protect teachers.”

Texas is one of eight states in the U.S. that legally permits school teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on school property.

Think Progress explains in its report that the Teacher’s Protection Act would allow students of color to be unfairly targeted.

“… By extension, if students of color are already disproportionately targeted by school authorities for their behavior, they could also become the targets of deadly force used by educators,” the source writes.

If this bill passes, the Texas law would allow teachers to kill students in worst case scenarios. Is it about time something like this works in defense of teachers — or is it an overreaction to school violence seen in the news?

[Image via Mobile Ed]