In the wake of the terrible crime that took place December 14 in Newtown, Connecticut, and the subsequent urging of the National Rifle Association’s Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre to place armed security guards in every American school as part of a proposed National School Shield Program, educators by the hundreds are already taking advantage of special concealed-carry training classes being offered across the country.

In addition, lawmakers in multiple states are preparing measures that would permit teachers and administrators who are certified to carry firearms for protection to do so in school classrooms and campuses.

In Utah, where CCW permit holders may already carry in public schools and universities without exception, the Utah Shooting Sports Council announced last week it would waive its normal $50 fee for concealed-weapons training for 200 teachers.

The class, called “Safe to Learn, Safe to Teach,” is open to anyone actively employed with a private or public school, college, university or vocational school. It's open to teachers, as well as anyone who works on school grounds and has a valid school employee ID.

“Schools are some of the safest places in the world, but I think teachers understand that something has changed—the sanctity of schools has changed,” said gun instructor Clark Aposhian.

Elsewhere, within 24 hours of announcing a free concealed-handgun-licensing course for educators, Lonestar Handgun, located in Schertz, Texas, had filled all 400 available slots for the 10-hour class.

“We’re trying to educate the educators and get forward momentum in the Legislature to allow teachers and any other concealed-handgun license holder into schools or any other public place,” said Lonestar owner Josh Felker. “Gun-free zones are not gun-free to criminals.”

On December 18, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he believes any person authorized to carry a handgun for personal and family protection in The Lone Star State should be able to do so everywhere, including schools.

“In the state of Texas, with our concealed-handgun license, if you have been duly backgrounded and trained and you are a concealed-handgun-license carrying individual, you should be able to carry your handgun anywhere in this state,” Perry said.

In Ohio, The Buckeye Firearms Association has created a 3-day training program called the “Armed Teacher Pilot Program” and will pay expenses for training, lodging and ammunition for up to 24 applicants. Ken Hanson, the legal chairman of the association, said the goal of the program is to “develop a standard Armed Teacher curriculum and make the training available to any teacher or school official.”

And last week in Missouri, the Saint Louis Association of Firearms Training Instructors (SAFTI) announced it is offering St. Louis-area teachers discounted concealed-carry permit training. Missouri CCW classes—which normally cost from $80 to $150—will be waived, so teachers and school administrators will only be required to pay a $15 range fee.