The Buckeye Firearms Association (BFA) announced in a January 9 release that over 1,000 educators have applied for its partner foundation’s Armed Teacher Training Program first publicized December 20, 2012. Applications are still being accepted via online survey.

“The original intent was to simply offer free firearm training to 24 teachers in order to show that teachers could be an effective deterrent to mass murder in schools,” BFA wrote.

In the wake of the mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, interest from teachers and other school employees was much higher than the pro-Second Amendment group anticipated.

“After three weeks, we have received well over 1,000 requests for this training. So while the goal is still the same, the scope of this program has changed significantly,” BFA explained before answering a number of frequently asked questions.

Employment as an educator and a valid concealed carry permit in the applicant’s state of employment are the only prerequisites for the Armed Teacher Training Program, which will build on the basics taught in concealed carry classes.

BFA mentioned that “medical trauma care, mindset, general school security, etc.” may be covered in the training, but that the program “will focus primarily on armed response to an ‘active killer’ scenario.”