Tribal Officials Discuss Firearms At Frazer Meeting

Frazer School Board members heard opposition from Fort Peck tribal leaders regarding firearms on campus during a meeting held on Monday, Jan. 12.

Superintendent of Schools Sarah Ruff said, “They expressed their feelings about student safety and guns in schools.”

Because of the topic wasn’t an agenda items, the tribal leaders expressed their views during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Ruff said tribal chairman Floyd Azure stressed that the tribes’ stance is no guns should be allowed on the reservation’s school campuses. Fort Peck tribal code prohibits carrying firearms in prohibited places, which include public schools and other buildings used to provide services on the reservation.

During the November school board meeting, a discussion was held regarding if school board members should have concealed and carry authority with firearms at the school.

Ruff said there were mixed opinions shared by trustees and audience members about the issue during that meeting.

“It was pretty controversial,” Ruff said at that time.

In November, trustees decided to table the decision until a future meeting.