NC school board says pepper spray should be in trans bathrooms, changes mind

A North Carolina school board voted to adopt a policy that would allow students to carry mace or pepper spray in trans-friendly bathrooms, but has since reconsidered the decision

>> Read more trending stories

The Rowan-Salisbury Board voted Monday to change a policy that prohibited pepper spray or mace on school campuses.

"We began talking about high school students, particularly females, who would be obviously driving to and from school generally during daylight hours, but also after daylight hours with athletic events and different things, and we did think it made sense to prohibit pepper spray on school property," school board Chairman Joshua Wagner told WSOC.

BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday that the board is now "rethinking" its decision, according to a board member.

Board member Chuck Hughes told BuzzFeed News he will vote against the policy after previously voting for it Monday.

Hughes said he realized the "cons far outweighed the pros," leading to his decision to change his vote at the May 23 session.He also said he spoke to other board members who said they will reconsider their favorable votes.

"I was not thinking about the LGBT issue," Hughes said. "Perverts and pedophiles taking advantage of this law in bathrooms was my major concern."

Cox Media Group