MONTGOMERY - A Franklin County-specific bill to allow public school teacher to be trained as reserved sheriff deputies and carry firearms in their classrooms passed the Alabama House this morning.

The training would be optional for teachers.

Bill sponsor Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, amended his original bill to also allow for “job-specific training for bus drivers in self-defense, gun violence prevention and the use and safe keeping of mace, stun guns, Tazers and other non-lethal weapons.”

Morrow said the amendment was a response to the fatal shooting of a Dale County bus driver and week-long hostage situation involving a 5-year-old boy last week.

“I felt like we needed to do something for bus drivers,” Morrow said this morning.

His bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

He also has a similar statewide bill.