Wyoming school districts may soon have authority to allow school employees to carry a concealed firearm on school property, according to the Casper Star Tribune.

House Bill 194, if approved, will give each school district the power to decide whether or not its employees with concealed carry permits can carry on campus. No district will be forced to permit its employees to carry.

Currently, the bill does not require employees who wish to carry in approved districts to undergo any specific training. However, lawmakers on both sides of the bill said that the issue will be addressed as the bill moves forward.

On Wednesday, HB 194 was approved by the House Education Committee, and will move on to the full House for a vote. If passed, it will advance to the Senate.

Those in favor of the bill argue that allowing employees to carry will create a safer environment for both children and staff.

Taft Love, a Wyoming school district board member, pointed out that this is especially true for schools that are far away from law enforcement officers, meaning response time for emergencies can be delayed.

Others argue that the bill will create a more dangerous environment, because children will have potential access to a firearm.

It is important to note that even if the bill is passed through both chambers of the Wyoming legislature, it will ultimately be up to each school district to decide whether or not concealed weapons will be allowed in its schools.