Idaho School District Buys Rifles, Warns Visitors: Building Is ‘Armed’

GARDEN VALLEY, ID — School administrators in Garden Valley, ID are taking student and staff security seriously. And further, they’re putting their money where their mouth is.

School board minutes from the most recent board meeting have detailed their purchase of four rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

The rifles cost $680 each.

The district is also considering spending up to $2000 on body armor vests and extra magazines.

Superintendent Marc Gee said, “We just have to protect our kids and we didn’t want to do it in a haphazard way.

The guns won’t stay locked in a gun safe with teachers unaware and untrained in how to use them.

No, before the guns were even purchased, school staff who volunteered received training from the Boise County Sheriff’s Office. Further, the district will post signs outside the school entrances telling any visitors that “our school is armed.”

When asked about the community’s response, Superintendent Gee said that it was overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been positive – I have yet to have a community member come in and say, ‘Why are you doing this?’” Gee said.

The Garden Valley school district is located about an hour north of Boise.