Parents weigh in on campus gun debate

AUSTIN (KXAN) - From kindergarten to college, witnesses lined up the State Capitol on Thursday to testify for and against "guns on campus" bills. But we found both sides on the playground.

Two parents - both teachers - with opposite views of the guns on campus debate. John Croston worries about guns getting in the wrong hands, that not even teachers would be able to stop a shooter.

“I don't know how much you can protect,” Croston said. “What's to stop someone from walking over here with a gun? We're just vulnerable at times."

Jamie Beall said teachers with guns might be a good idea for protection, but there should be other options.

“I think if they had it in a safe and if they had training like extensive training and they were really prepared to use it and with things going on, yeah I think so,” Beall said.

Senate budget writers are also pushing this week to restore more than $200 million cut from mental health funding - a direct reaction to a Connecticut school shooting, blamed on a mentally deranged shooter.