A measure that would allow personnel in Indiana schools to be trained to carry handguns and use them in the event of a school shooting is now headed to the desk of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb after passing the Indiana Senate Tuesday. 

House Bill 1177, authored by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, cleared the Senate 42-8 and cleared the House 71-24. 

The legislation did not come without a fight in the Senate, as Democrats tried three times to pass amendments to the bill, with all three failing. 

Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, proposed an amendment that would require schools to notify parents of who has been authorized to carry a firearm and it failed 34-15.

Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, attempted two proposed amendments. 

The first requested the training be done by an instructor who is not only qualified, but also approved by the Law Enforcement Training Board and would ensure the training was continued. That measure failed 33-16.

Ford's second proposal asked for the measure to be dumped and sent to a summer study committee to allow more time to discuss the proposed legislation.That measure also failed 39-10.  

Lucas says he feels good that his legislation is headed to Holcomb's desk and that he has heard from numerous educators who support it. Lucas continued by saying his legislation can be traced back to multiple school shootings across the nation, but was spurred by the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018. 

"It is a great piece of legislation that simply gives those that volunteer state paid training and a chance to save their life in the event of an active shooter situation," said Lucas, who stressed the legislation is "strictly voluntary." 

Lucas said a school corporation has to want to do it and teachers/staff must volunteer and pass a psychological evaluation and complete a training course before the state will pay for it. 

The state will pay for it by reallocating funds in the Indiana Safe Schools fund to training. 

Current law permits educators to carry guns in schools but does not require or offer formal training.