In response to the Parkland school shooting, a Pennsylvania school district has armed 500 teachers with mini baseball bats to help thwart off a possible gunman, Eerie News Now reports.

The Millcreek Township School District superintendent said the bats were given to teachers following training on how to deal with school shooters.

“It is the last resort,” said Superintendent William Hall. “But, it is an option and something we want people to be aware of.”

There has been much chatter on how teachers should deal with school shootings since a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentines Day.

“We passed them out, with the goal being we wanted every room to have one of these,” said Hall. “Unfortunately, we’re in a day and age where one might need to use them to protect ourselves and our kids.”

Hall called the bats “symbolic” and they will be locked up in classrooms, but said it was an option for educators to use in case a shooting arises.

He said that the school district is working on building a concrete barrier around the walkway of the high schools as well as security measures at entrances.