Mo. teachers balk at being shot at with air soft pellet guns

FARMINGTON, Mo. - Many teachers are willing to put up with lousy pay, outdated textbooks and students who claim the dog ate their homework. But some Farmington teachers drew the line at their latest assignment: Taking part in a safety drill where they would be required wear goggles and be shot at with air soft pellet guns.

CBS affiliate KMOX reported that four teachers at Farmington High School contacted the prosecuting attorney's office Tuesday after they were handed goggles during the "active shooter" exercise. Farmington is a city in St. Francois County, located about 60 miles south of St. Louis.

County prosecutor Jerrod Mahurin told the station several teachers contact his office for "legal advice" on the matter, but said no formal complaint was filed.

Associate Superintendent Sarah Long said school personnel were not forced to take part in that aspect of the drill.

"When they actually go in and show you what an actual shooter situation is you can say, 'I don't want to be one of the victims, I think that's too scary,'" Long said.

Todd Fuller, a spokesman for the Missouri State Teachers Association, told KMOX the issue has come up before in other districts.

"I think what we're going to see is a need to re-address and re-evaluate the statute," he said.