Calls it the last line of defense in emergency.
There's already been plenty of talk about it, now a bill allowing armed marshals at Texas public schools has finally been filed in Austin.
Dallas Republican Jason Villalba says his Protection of Texas Children Act would allow marshals with proper training and certification to be able to use lethal force if there was an attack in the classroom or elsewhere on campus.
That person could be the principal, janitor or gym teacher.
And no, he says they won't be armed at all times.
"In the event of an emergency, an active shooter situation, then and only then would they be able to access a firearm that otherwise would be kept within their reach under lock and key," Villalba tells KTRH News.
Rep. Villalba calls HB 1009 a last resort when all else fails in an emergency.
"If that occurs, the most horrific situation we can think of, where there's a shooter in the school seeking to harm human life," he says. "I think most parents are comfortable having a fighting chance for their child. This is about protecting our kids."
Villalba says this would not mandate all Texas schools do this, insisting participation would be left up to local school boards.
Texas can already grant written permission for employees to carry firearms on campus, but Villalba's proposal would regulate the process of designating and training the marshals by requiring mental health checks and other measures.
Hear the podcast with Matt Patrick and Houston's Morning News as he talks with Villalba:
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