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Arizona legislators push to arm teachers after Ducey's plan doesn't

Gov. Doug Ducey and state legislators each have crafted separate plans details how they believe schools can be made safer.

PHOENIX - The issue of school safety has reached a boiling point over the past few weeks with thousands of student across the county taking to the streets and marching to demand change.

Gov. Doug Ducey's school safety plan pushes for more resource officers on campus, but other legislators believe the plan needs to take things a step further.

"The idea behind the school marshal program really stems from the sky marshal program," said Republican House Speaker J.D. Mesnard. "Somebody who is there to engage if something disastrous happens on a plane."

RELATED: Arizona school safety plan adds psychologists, volunteers but doesn't address gun purchases

The "school marshal" plan would allow for staff members, like teacher and janitors, to undergo training that would allow them to carry a weapon on campus. The idea is these people would immediately respond in the event of an active shooter situation as police are en route.

"We're not going to reinvent the wheel. We would look to what other states have done, they've sort of worked through it," Speaker Mesnard said.

Ducey's plan pushes for more school resource officers, as opposed to trained staff members, who he believes should have just one role in a school setting.

"I want to have our teacher teaching inside the classroom. That's what they signed up to do and that's what they do so well," Ducey said.

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