Teachers to get simulated gun training

AUSTIN (KXAN) - In light of recent mass shootings nationwide, a local agency is giving teachers an opportunity to train for such crisis situations.

The Capital Area Council of Governments will be conducting training the March 11 through March 15, at the San Marcos Police Department Range.

“It’s a timely, intensive training for eligible teachers,” said Mike Jennings, director of CAPCOG’s Regional Law Enforcement Academy. “Teachers want to help students learn, achieve and succeed in a safe environment, and this course will help them respond appropriately, including working with law enforcement, in the presence of a potentially violent threat.”

According to CAPCOG, in addition to learning firearm maintenance and overall gun-handling skills, they will practice responding to an active shooter with the help of the agency’s simulator.

The simulator uses software and an interactive video screen with several hundred scenarios to choose from, including school related incidents.

In the simulation, the participant receives a weapon similar to what they normally carry. While the weapon does not fire live rounds, it produces the same sound and recoil of a live weapon.

The experience is designed to look and feel like a real encounter. Participants will be forced to make judgment calls and be faced with indecision, fear, blind-side surprises and making ‘life or death’ choices.

CAPCOG says the participant will watch a video scenario during which the student must ask questions, give commands and ultimately decide the amount of force needed to resolve the situation. Depending on the questions or commands asked by the participant, the simulator operator is able to escalate or de-escalate the scenario using the computer system.

The 50-hour training session costs $150 and is open to current Texas educators with a concealed-handgun license. You must also have an approved handgun and holster and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Registration and additional information on the Advanced Concealed Handgun Training for Teachers can be found on CAPCOG's website .