Preparing for active shooters in southern Colorado

Southern Colorado has not had a school shooting with a death toll comparable to Columbine, Sandy Hook or Wednesday’s tragedy in Florida but that hasn’t stopped locals from preparing for such a scenario.

In the past few years, authorities have worked with schools in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Pueblo and Woodland Park in training exercises.

First responders want to arrive quickly, save lives and eliminate the threat from an armed invader.

Students, faculty and staff want to learn how to best remain safe and help make the job of authorities easier.

Last year, the Legislature approved allowing school employees besides security and resource officers to carry firearms — the logic being that those employees can save lives by responding sooner that authorities can, especially in rural areas.

The law has caused heated public debate, but last June the state held its first training class for school employees who are licensed to own guns, volunteer to carry them on campus and have been designated to do so by a school board or local governmental entity.

Seventeen people, including one from El Paso County, attended the three-day class in Weld County.

A local gun rights group, Coloradans for Civil Liberties, paid the $1,000 tuition for each of the 17 people to receive the training.

An Ohio-based firm, FASTER, with a staff that has law enforcement experience, provided the training and trained Colorado officers who will conduct future classes.

Around two dozen school districts in the state, primarily in rural communities, presently allow staff to carry a gun if they are serving as a school security officer.

Organizers said the training is necessary because Colorado has no training requirements for school employees or private security guards.

Critics said the three-day class wasn’t enough to prepare a faculty or staff member to confront an active shooter.

Organizers plan to offer another class this summer and include church volunteers who want to protect their congregations from similar armed threats.