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The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education in North Carolina approved changes that would allow high school students to carry Mace and pepper spray on campus, the Salisbury Post reports.

This stems from the U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights lawsuit against North Carolina on Monday regarding the state’s so-called “bathroom bill.” It requires transgender people to use public bathrooms that match the gender on their birth certificate.

In response, the school board changed rules that banned the sprays on campus. Board member Chuck Hughes gave this explanation to the Salisbury Post:

“Depending on how the courts rule on the bathroom issues, it may be a pretty valuable tool to have on the female students if they go to the bathroom, not knowing who may come in.”

Still, there’s concern that some students may misuse the sprays. The Post said the board’s attorney pointed to instances when students used Mace on a teacher.

Other board members are dismissing that concern. The newspaper reported that board member Travis Allen, for example, said scores of people bring Mace and pepper spray to Friday night football games without any problems.

SOURCE: Salisbury Post  | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

SEE ALSO:

Progress: White House Hires First Openly Transgender Staffer

Backlash Against North Carolina’s “Bathroom Bill” & Mississippi’s “Religious Freedom” Law Increases

NC School Board To Allow Students To Carry Mace  was originally published on newsone.com