|
(Continued from page 18)
Daugaard said it's "absurd and ridiculous" to call mixed martial arts a sport.
• "The way one wins in those contests is by beating up your opponent, bloodying them, kicking, scratching, punching," Daugaard said. "I don't support in any fashion anything the state would do to legitimize this kind of behavior. I think it's a sad commentary on what our culture allows in some areas."
• A bill passed in 2009 created a similar commission, but Johnston said that commission doesn't exist because former Gov. Mike Rounds never appointed anyone to serve on it. The bill approved Friday by the committee would allow the governor to appoint one commissioner, while the other four would be appointed by legislative leaders.
• Daugaard said he opposes the bill, but if lawmakers proceed with the measure they should at least change the wording so they would appoint all the commissioners and he appoints none.
SD House panel approves bill on arming teachers
CHET BROKAW,Associated Press
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A deeply divided South Dakota legislative committee approved a bill Friday that would allow school districts to arm teachers and other personnel with guns to protect against attacks like last month's school shooting in Connecticut.
• The Education Committee voted 8-7 to send the measure to the House after extensive testimony and debate in hearings over two days.
• Supporters said school boards need the option of arming teachers, administrators or volunteers to protect against attacks, particularly in rural districts where no law enforcement officers are stationed in school buildings. But opponents -- including organizations representing school boards, teachers and administrators -- said putting guns in schools could make them more dangerous because it could lead to accidental shootings or other problems if students get their hands on teachers' guns.
• Rep. Dan Kaiser, R-Aberdeen, a police officer, said the Legislature should trust local school boards to decide whether to have armed personnel in school buildings. Kaiser and other supporters said law officers often cannot get to a school to stop intruders from shooting people.
(Continued on page 20)
|
|
