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* Republican House candidate Landon Laubhan of Springfield…
“If you can’t trust a teacher to carry a concealed weapon and protect students, who can you really trust?” he said. “I’ll put a teacher with a gun up against a bad man with a gun any day.”
Laubhan said he is fully confident that law enforcement will be able to screen out people who should not be able to carry concealed guns. He isn’t a gun owner, he said, but “I don’t have to own a gun in order to love the Second Amendment.”
I can think of a few teachers in my own past who I wouldn’t trust with a concealed gun in class.
And he’s not a gun owner? Curious.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:10 am
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I am now going to have visions of Sister Delores packing heat for the rest of day. Thanks for that.
Comment by Montrose Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:14 am
Yeah I definitely may not be alive today if they allowed Sister Malvinia to carry a gun to st. mary’s grade school
Comment by tonya harding Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:14 am
Chalkboard erasers flying from the front of the class room were much less lethal than lead.
Comment by vole Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:17 am
Some of the nuns that I had were near-lethal with yard sticks. I don’t think they needed any additional firepower in those days. A cold stare and a well-timed whack on the knuckles was enough to get the toughest kids in class back in line.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:17 am
teachers with guns… in classrooms.
it’s reached the point where this is a logical solution? I read the news and see there are shootings at schools and universities on a monthly or even weekly basis. but I can’t agree that arming teachers is going to solve the problem.
Comment by PoolGuy Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
The last thing I want to see are certain colleagues of mine packing heat in our high school.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:23 am
I don’t think we pay our teachers enough to ask them to kill people.
Comment by Siriusly Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:25 am
Careful what we want, all spouses are now on alert, their partner is carrying a gun.
Yes honey, yes honey yes honey….. what ever you want.
Comment by Beware Spouses!!! Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:27 am
==I’ll put a teacher with a gun up against a bad man with a gun any day==
(untrained teacher w/ gun) * (bad guy w/ gun) * (element of surprise) = ???????
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:29 am
He is not a gun owner, but loves the second amendment…..I’m not married, but I love my wife…..try again junior.
Comment by John A Logan Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:30 am
I do not own a gun or a FOID card but support gun ownership and concealed carry. I am not alone.
Those that tout gun packing teachers often cite Israel without noting all Israeli teachers are trained vets. Myself, I would rather see some of our young men and women coming back from active duty given security jobs at schools until they can transition to a job in civilian life.
Comment by Toure's Latte Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:31 am
If I tell you I have a truck with a 20 million dollar load of Gold parked somewhere, would you think the best way to protect it would be a gun free zone all around the area its in? Have you not noticed EVERY mass shooting is in gun free zones. Its not about how you FEEL about the issue. Its about the facts. Arming a teacher capable of being trained or has already received military training just makes sense no matter how you want to FEEL about it. Start realizing all your freedoms are protected by men with guns. Pretending a no gun sign keeps are kids safe is as realistic as wearing a do not shoot me shirt and walking through the hood carrying a flat screen.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:32 am
My wife, who is a teacher, would be the first to tell him this is a very bad idea. Far too many opportunities for something to go catastrophically wrong with this.
Comment by Bluefish Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:34 am
My 8th Grade English teacher once called me into his office, stood nose to nose to me, and called me an SOB. Give that anger management wash out a gun, and I’m a goner.
Comment by Urbs In Horto Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:39 am
A former central IL police chief had a similar brain storm recently. Parents could mostly see teacher being overpowered by the student the teacher was trying to subdue, teacher and other students shot.
Chief was sent packing
Comment by CicrcularFiringSquad Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:40 am
Apparently gunpoint society is civil society.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:40 am
@ Anonymous - Can we just get past the “all your freedoms are protected by men with guns” meme? You’ve heard of Martin Luther King and Gandhi, right? They both managed to obtain and protect rights for people when facing men with guns. So how about we retire that idea once and for all?
Comment by Peoria Pete Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:41 am
If you feel you need armed personnel in schools, hire them for that job. Have them screened, trained, and qualified. Trained police make mistakes. Don’t ask Miss Martin to supervise kindergarten and be prepared to conduct a shoot-out with a bad guy with a gun.
Comment by Aldyth Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:43 am
==- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:32 am:==
False nonsense and racism wrapped up together, not a surprise.
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/10/gun_control_report_mass_shootings.php
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/04/gun-free-zones-mass-shootings
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:48 am
But how’s he going to keep guns out of the hands of those “substandard” teachers’ union thugs we keep hearing about?
Comment by olddog Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:50 am
Having what I suspect is a unique perspective on this (When I was in HS in Illinois a kid shot a teacher in my HS, I knew the shooter, helped teach his swimming class)
I am not sure an armed teacher would have resulted in a better outcome.
In the incident, the student shot the teacher (in the arm she survived) and she left the room, there was a sign language interpreter in the room who got the rest of the students out after it happened. The shooter (who had some issues at home that allegedly led in part to the shooting) was talked out of injuring himself by the police officer on campus and was arrested and charged and convicted as a juvenile.
In this case I am not sure what armed teacher (or aid) would have accomplished besides killing the shooter.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:50 am
Anonymous– Your rights are protected by the Constitution.
Comment by Tobor Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:52 am
I can just imagine my 60 year old, 4′10 1st grade teacher wielding a Glock 22 in order to subdue a armed gunman. Might want to rethink that, Landon.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:54 am
Great - now armed teachers are going to hit on my kids when they get lonely.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:54 am
good people/gun X gun/bad people = gun/gun = machine one = machine won
Comment by vole Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:56 am
What would be wrong allowing trained teachers to have a firearm? Schools are soft targets, the security systems are temporary obstacles that are easily overcome as we have seen numerous times.
I do understand the fear some have that a teacher may use that weapon against a student. That fear can apply to any profession including military and law enforcement, yet no one thinks we should not allow them to be armed because of the possibility.
Should teachers be forced to be armed? No. Should teachers who are trained and willing to accept the responsibility of providing a more secure area for our children be allowed to be armed? I believe the answer is yes.
If we cannot trust those who we leave our children with for the school day, and after hour activities, who do we trust? If we cannot trust the protection of our children to them, why do we trust them to teach?
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:56 am
=== You’ve heard of Martin Luther King and Gandhi, right? ====
you mean the 2 guys who were assassinated?
Comment by Ghost Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:59 am
“I’ll put a teacher with a gun up against a bad man with a gun any day.”
Please do not put my beloved mother-in-law “up against a bad man with a gun.”
Not today. Not tomorrow. Not any day.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 11:59 am
Just when I think I’ve seen every vulgar iteration of fundamentalist gun-worship, somebody like “Ghost” comes along…
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:03 pm
Gun free zones and law making murder a crime etc only work against those who feel constrained to follow the law. The problem is that most gun violence comes from people wo have made a decision to act outside the law (outlaws if you prefer) and they are not constrained by fear of breaking the law.
While arming everyone is not a solution, disarming everyone is not a solution either. Perhaps a system that allowed those with training to be armed would be helpful. BTW the mythical kids who overpower the teacher to take the gun and use it… this is a flawed logical argument.
It asuems a kid who has decided to only enage in lawful or non harmful behavior who suddenly decides to become violent because they know their teacher is armed. Hogwash.
those kids just bring their own guns, or homemade explosives, or bats and knives to cause harm. The decision to harm others is not because they know the teacher has a gun and decide to take it; they decided to do harm regardless of the teacher and a weapon. So the question is what tools exsist for those who follow the law to reists those who have decided to become outlaws? I couldnt stop a kid with a knife, a bat, pipe bomb, or a gun with my good intentions. So we need to have a real conversation on plan b; and it needs to consider the real world not ridiculous hypotehticals.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:06 pm
@ ghost - doesn’t change the fact that they were able to protect and expand the rights of millions without resorting to violence or the use of arms.
Comment by Peoria Pete Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:07 pm
MrJM
you mean argument ad hominem is the best inteelectual discussion you can put forth? well shall we discuss the details then. Ghandi and Martin luther King were targeting organized governments for legal and policy changes of those governemnts. They were killed by individuals who did not feel constrained by the words of social order.
Our violence problems are coming from people who decide not to follow our written laws and policies. They are not moved by acts of kindness or sacrifice to behave themselves. Ghandi and Dr. King models do not apply to such situations. But then again, the world may actually be complicated.
but when the best point you can make is a non-point, then shame on the pretensious who consider ideas not their own vulgar.
MrJM I may be vulgar in your eyes, but I am not so pretentious as to reject discourse, thought and perspective with name calling; then again I think the exchange of ideas and considering multiple perspectives is how we develope solutions. If perspective is vulgar, then I expect your battle cry at the head of this debate is to let those concerned eat cake….
Comment by Ghost Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:13 pm
My chem teacher was given to Bost-style tirades. Glad he wasn’t pack in’.
Comment by cicero Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:16 pm
Not sure I’m for all the teachers packing in schools, but I’m not sure I’m against having a few designated good guys (teachers, admin, custodial, whatever)with the means to neutralize a bad guy if need be.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:19 pm
Teachers want to TEACH kids. That’s what they had in mind when they chose that profession. I doubt many (any?) were thinking about marksman training to go along with the degree. What will we ask them to do next? Take them on at birth in the delivery room?
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:20 pm
Ghost - so Anonymous can essentially state that rights only come from men with guns, but that’s not an ad hominem comment? I would have thought you’d want to be more consistent in your criticisms.
Please tell me why training teachers to use guns results in more protection in schools. You only have to pick up the paper and read about how well trained soldiers and police misjudged a situation and shot innocent people. It happens; I get that. But what I can’t accept is the idea that if everyone is trained to carry a gun we all become collectively safer. Just as a numbers game, it seems like more guns in play equals more potential for tragedy.
Comment by Peoria Pete Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:22 pm
Can we just get past the “all your freedoms are protected by men with guns” meme?
You think it is a meme? So, which Disney character do you play over there in Orlando?
I bet its Goofy - am I right?
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:24 pm
By the way, train teachers to carry guns and the wrong person accidentally gets shot or even the right person gets shot and we now have a little old classroom teacher on trial for murder or manslaughter and a prison sentence? Really? That thought would drive many to seek another career, never choose this one or retire early. This stuff belongs to police/security people. If we can’t trust THEM to keep us safe, who do we trust?
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:24 pm
I read an interesting statistic that of all the 50 states, one has not had a school shooting. Hmmmm… The state would be Utah.
Comment by Fan Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:24 pm
As someone who spent a career in a classroom, I can think of individuals who would embrace this opportunity. . . but they aren’t always the people you would want to see packing heat. Also, the chance of the armed individual being in the right place at the right time is quite slim.
Comment by Jeanne Dough Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:26 pm
==And he’s not a gun owner? Curious.==
Why is that so curious? I’m not gay or married, but I adamantly support the right of gay people to get married. Is not owning a gun and supporting the right of someone to carry one really so different?
Comment by Left Leaner Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:27 pm
“I am now going to have visions of Sister Delores packing heat for the rest of day. Thanks for that.”
Nuns With guns
Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:27 pm
For anyone against the idea of select, trained and prepared teachers being armed, what realistic idea do you propose to harden schools as targets?
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:38 pm
Two big problems:
1) Teachers spend their time focused on students and learning. If you put a gun in the classroom, some of the teachers attention will be diverted to monitoring the gun; no way do you want kids to have access to that gun. However, if the gun is unloaded and has a trigger lock, how useful will it be if a shooter comes into the building. So, the loaded and ready weapon will require significant attention from the teacher at all times.
2) When law enforcement arrives, how do they distinguish between the bad guys with guns and the good guys with guns? Which shooters are teachers and which are perpetrators? Everyone is in street clothes…
Bad idea.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:47 pm
I can just imagine my 60 year old, 4′10 1st grade teacher wielding a Glock 22 in order to subdue a armed gunman. Might want to rethink that, Landon.
I’m thinking a .45 might be better.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 12:54 pm
As it has been pointed out previously, the recent mass shootings have taken place in gun free zones. Perhaps having a few armed teachers or administrators might have actually acted as a deterrent.
Comment by unknown poster Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:03 pm
==Some of the nuns that I had were near-lethal with yard sticks.==
If this is true, what would happen if the nuns were packing heat in the classroom? Nuns, or teachers in general, with guns scares me. Not the proper role model for impressionable youth.
Comment by Hit or Miss Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:04 pm
Any of you folks ever hear of Concealed Carry? It is called concealed because the firearm is hidden from plain site. It’s like a lot of folks here are assuming that the gun is going to be visible for everyone to see. Please.
Comment by unknown poster Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:08 pm
Not all teachers would want to carry a firearem nor would I want all teachers packing heat. However having a few fully trained school employees with a concealed firearm just might be enough of a deterrent to keep our kids safe.
Comment by unknown poster Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:15 pm
The assumption is the armed teacher would not only prevent harm to students and staff by killing the armed, often psychotic, man before he kills, she’ll avoid his bullets while carrying out this task. How likely is that ? How much more likely is it her bullets may strike an innocent during this shootout?
Is the teacher held accountable for not shooting down the killer before he harms others? Is she accountable for any innocents harmed during the exchange of bullets? Does student safety come second to going after the killer?
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:18 pm
Not sure teachers with guns would have made a difference in Newtown, Virgina Tech or some of the other instances of school shootings if you’ve got a mentally deranged shooter.
Comment by Peoria Pete Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:19 pm
- This stuff belongs to police/security people. If we can’t trust THEM to keep us safe, who do we trust? -
You can’t carry an armed police officer or security guard with you, but you can carry a gun. Who do you trust? You trust yourself - If someone is attcking me or a family member, I am the 1st responder to the situation, not some police officer who will not arrive until after the situation is over to draw lines around a body on the ground. The question is do you want the lines drawn around your body or the guy who selected you as his next victim?
Comment by RetiredArmyMP Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:25 pm
– I can think of a few teachers in my own past who I wouldn’t trust with a concealed gun in class. –
And so can I. However, I can think of people in many different occupations who shouldn’t have a concealed gun including: state workers, car salesmen, police, legistrators, and venture capitalists, just to name a few groups.
Comment by Rufus Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:27 pm
“Not sure teachers with guns would have made a difference in Newtown, Virginia Tech or some of the other instances of school shootings if you’ve got a mentally deranged shooter.”
Maybe, maybe not, but I bet more than a few of those parents of slain children would have liked to have seen their children have a fighting chance. As it is, they were all at the mercy of the shooter, and in the case of Newtown, cowering in the corner of their classroom behind their unarmed, defenseless teacher. Armed teachers or security personnel are the ONLY thing that could have saved these people.
Comment by countyline Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:28 pm
=== However, I can think of people in many different occupations who shouldn’t===
Don’t disagree, but look at the guy’s quote. It’s a blanket statement.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:29 pm
Most shootings do not occur in “gun-free zones.”
Those are simply the ones considered so shocking that we put them on the news.
Comment by walker Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:38 pm
Ghost said: “those kids just bring their own guns, or homemade explosives, or bats and knives to cause harm.”
So you’re claiming that every single act of gun violence is premeditated? Or just that every act by a student is premeditated?
Can you at least concede it’s possible that there could be an accidental discharge if a teacher had a gun?
Can you concede that a significant portion of violent crimes are acts of passion and emotion? That teenagers, especially, can be pretty emotional humans. That maybe, just maybe, a kid who’s been picked on, singled out, has troubles at home, whatever, might have something happen, decide s/he has had enough, snap, and try to wrest away a gun if he knows a teacher has one?
I guess none of that is possible.
I know this - I had plenty of teachers that I wouldn’t want carrying a gun, and more than one who, if they were carrying guns, would’ve been more than happy to let students know about it.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:46 pm
By the way, I don’t know of ANY surrounding suburban school that does NOT have an officer liason.
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 1:58 pm
Too many contributors on here are reading Mr. Lauban’s comment as a suggested mandate, which would be unworkable. My wife would never have wanted to carry a gun (I was totally surprised that she favors cocealed carry), but if a permitted teacher wanted to carry his or her CONCEALED weapon in the classroom, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.
The Principal should know they have it, and some additional training (maybe school provided)wouldn’t hurt.
Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:00 pm
I would not be in favor of teachers carrying guns. If you want to turn schools into a fortress with armed guards, fine. But don’t do it by giving teachers guns. Bad idea. I don’t want my kid in a classroom where a gun is present.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:03 pm
Both of my parents are/were teachers.
I wouldn’t want to put a gun in either of their hands. Nor the hands of their co-workers.
Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:03 pm
===Any of you folks ever hear of Concealed Carry? It is called concealed because the firearm is hidden from plain site. It’s like a lot of folks here are assuming that the gun is going to be visible for everyone to see. Please. ===
If it’s voluntary, the student body’s going to figure out which faculty members are carrying (or likely to be carrying) pretty easily. If it’s mandatory, well that makes it easier to identify targets. Kids aren’t stupid.
Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:08 pm
This obsessive concept that guns are the panacea for all of society’s ills and that Jesus was packing cuz God gave guns to Adam and Eve and Steve in the Garden is simply the sign of some rip in our social fabric that I cannot identify, but look forward to social science study.
Comment by D.P.Gumby Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:08 pm
I did some substitute teaching a couple days at a middle school. If I had a pistol, I might have shot some of those little creeps. They were real jerks.
I say no to guns in school period. And I own 2 guns. Thank God my kids are out of school and I don’t have to worry about idiot proposals like this.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:11 pm
===You think it is a meme? So, which Disney character do you play over there in Orlando?
I bet its Goofy - am I right? ===
Our government has the most powerful conventional military in the world, as well as more than 5000 nuclear weapons in its stockpile.
It is not possible to build a civilian arsenal that could have a prayer of defeating that kind of firepower if the government were to turn on us.
Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:14 pm
A lot of people are saying no armed teachers or guns in school. Not one has offered how to make the schools secure from a shooting.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:26 pm
===A lot of people are saying no armed teachers or guns in school. Not one has offered how to make the schools secure from a shooting.===
Short of curbing the supply of guns in our society, there is no way.
The best way to make our schools secure is to make it harder for gun manufacturers to do business in this country. But that’s a complete nonstarter because it strikes many different conservative nerves.
Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:32 pm
College, where your theory falls short is that you are assuming an all volunteer army will turn all of those weapons on its own citizens - ain’t gonna happen, at least for any length of time. All you have to do is look at Vietnam and 1980’s Afghanistan to see what a few determined citizens can do against a professional army.
Comment by countyline Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:33 pm
I’m all for taking the fire extinguishers out of the schools because teachers are not firefighters. I foresee having a lockup that is accessed biometrically and only those authorized would have access to the guns. I don’t want to see anyone who does not feel comfortable having access, but there are a few, and it only takes a few, to be a deterrent and a safety factor. Police are only a few minutes away when seconds count! Good guys recognize police and will act accordingly while police, knowing there are armed personnel in the school, sort out the situation. How about the janitor in the Catholic Schools being armed? If guns scare you, it may be because you are afraid of the unknown. The unknown scares me too. When I was a kid, black people scared me. The black man that works down the hall doesn’t scare me now. Go to a range and get acquainted.
Comment by G.I.Joe Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:33 pm
I suggest you take a look at this…not exactly a conservative web site:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/04/21/496931/-Why-Liberals-Should-Love-The-Second-Amendment
Comment by countyline Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:34 pm
==I’m all for taking the fire extinguishers out of the schools because teachers are not firefighters.==
And here come the dumb arguments . . . .
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:37 pm
@countyline:
I don’t mean to be dense but I have no idea what the point of your link is.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:38 pm
Can we all take a deep breath? What we’re talking about is a safeguard that at most *might* be used *once* in the teacher’s lifetime. And all the hyperbole of “If I had a gun, some of those students wouldn’t have survived” and “Nuns with Guns” is just silly. You know and I know that you (and they) wouldn’t have pulled the trigger.
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:43 pm
To play off of the famous mantra: Fire extinguishers don’t kill people, people kill people. Please don’t use stupid arguments. It makes all of us to do responsibly own guns look like idiots too. That distinction should be restricted to those qualified.
I’d rather have a qualified armed cop or security guard protecting the school than a large number of stressed out teachers who need to focus on our kids education.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:46 pm
Dem - College Student says “The best way to make our schools secure is to make it harder for gun manufacturers to do business in this country. But that’s a complete nonstarter because it strikes many different conservative nerves.”
My link is to show that not everyone who supports gun rights is a conservative.
Comment by countyline Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:48 pm
@countyline:
Thanks.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:52 pm
—– Short of curbing the supply of guns in our society, there is no way.
The best way to make our schools secure is to make it harder for gun manufacturers to do business in this country. But that’s a complete nonstarter because it strikes many different conservative nerves.——–
That is nonsense. How about a realistic idea at the very least?
Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:55 pm
===—– Short of curbing the supply of guns in our society, there is no way.
The best way to make our schools secure is to make it harder for gun manufacturers to do business in this country. But that’s a complete nonstarter because it strikes many different conservative nerves.——–
That is nonsense. How about a realistic idea at the very least? ===
There is no realistic way.
Comment by CollegeStudent Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 2:57 pm
School shootings are RARE. Very rare. That’s why they make the news. Will schools ever be 100% safe? NO.
The question is, will teachers with guns make schools safer than they are now? I think to answer that, you need to consider where the teacher will keep the gun. In order to be an effective deterrent, the gun would need to be loaded and readily (and quickly) accessible to the teacher. Therein lies the problem, because a weapon that is loaded and accessible could also be taken up by a student. The more difficult you make it for a student to access the gun, the more difficult it will be for the teacher to use it in an emergency. Even if the teacher is wearing the gun in a holster, it is accessible to students.
Teachers working in the classroom are surrounded by students seeking their attention. In order to ensure the gun is secure, the teacher needs to focus some attention on the gun rather than the students.
I simply do not see how the school is safer if there is a loaded gun in the classroom. And, it is certainly not a better learning environment if the teacher has to pay attention to their gun in addition to their students.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:02 pm
==I’m all for taking the fire extinguishers out of the schools because teachers are not firefighters.==
You forgot to point out that students will occasionally use the fire extinguisher to make a mess.
However, to use your analogy more appropriately, fires are more common in schools, and it is easy to learn to use a fire extinguisher properly. However, if a child accesses the fire extinguisher and uses it on someone, no one is likely to die.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:08 pm
=A lot of people are saying no armed teachers or guns in school. Not one has offered how to make the schools secure from a shooting.=
Can’t be done, period. A single motivated lone wolf will always find a way, no matter who is armed.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:17 pm
To the post blanket statements tend to make you look foolish.
It is impossible to %100 stop these kind of attacks. Even if you took College Students proposal and we managed to eliminate gun manufacturers from U.S. shores firearms are still a globally traded commodity. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t steps that could be taken to minimize the damage. Such as hardening access points, ballistic doors on classrooms, and perhaps armed security. I’d also like to see a means to evacuate classrooms to the outdoors and isolate sections of the school (perhaps magnetic hold open on hall doors.) The problem is any step that significantly makes schools safer is going to cost some serious funds. Funds that schools are struggling with now simply to educate students. As rare as these attacks are the benefit risk ratio for the districts just isn’t there.
I agree with Pot calling kettle on the problematic nature of teachers dealing with children while carrying. However i could see a biometric lockbox in the teachers desk as an option for those properly trained and vetted.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:45 pm
I’m not so sure that his Blanket Trust by every single teacher with a gun in his/her possession is all that well-founded. Sorry, dude.
Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:50 pm
Seems like a lot of you think you have to be a gun owner to appreciate the 2nd Amendment. That is obviously not true. I’m not a journalist, but I love our freedom of the press. I don’t own a house, but I love our 3rd Amendment. I’ve never been arrested, but I love our 5th Amendment. I’ve never been subject to a trial, but I love our 6th Amendment. I’ve never posted bail, but I love our 8th Amendment. You don’t have to exercise the right to be thankful it exists.
Comment by Matt Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 3:59 pm
As someone who grew up with guns and believes the Second Amendment confers a personal right to bear arms, I think arming teachers is pointless, counter-productive, and completely off-target. (Pardon the pun.)
The idea of arming teachers is a response to school shootings, right? So instead of addressing the root causes of school shootings, we’re going to just shoot the people who do them? Way to miss the point. Instead of foisting this extra responsibility on teachers, we need to adequately fund our mental health service network, teach our kids about bullying and empathy, and educate parents and teachers how to recognize kids who are at risk of committing these crimes. School shootings happen for a reason: we have too many isolated, unhappy kids. We need to address the real problem here.
Comment by Sonic Infidel Friday, Feb 7, 14 @ 4:05 pm