Armed Teachers...

[bodecea]

After every school shooting the conversation, sooner or later, becomes a discussion of whether or not we should allow teachers to be armed.

I believe we should.

I'm not advocating that every teacher be armed. The last thing I would want to have is someone who, for whatever reason, either cannot or will not use a gun properly. If a teacher doesn't want to be armed, I can respect that. What I can't respect, though, is when those who choose to be unarmed want to insist that others should not be allowed to be armed.

Opponents of this idea are quick to say that it's a bad idea, yet, thus far, every single one has failed to offer a valid reason as to why it would be a bad idea. Apparently, opponents are of the belief that a teacher can't be properly trained in the use of a firearm, or in the use of deadly force. I reject that idea. Once upon a time, every single person who is a cop today did not know how use a firearm. They learned how to use a firearm. If a teacher is smart enough to teach, doesn't it fit that the teacher should be smart enough to learn, too?

Let those who wish to be armed be armed, and those who don't wish to be armed can remain unarmed.

Often mentioned is the idea of "crossfire". Let's discuss that for a minute, because it's really an invalid concern.

In order for crossfire to occur, a minimum of two people need to be shooting at the same target, which is between them. Now, I'm not entirely sure why, but opponents seem to believe that once law enforcement shows up, an armed teacher will still be blasting away. That's simply not the case. A simple doctrine would be that the teacher secures his or her weapon when police arrive. That way there's no chance that the teacher is misidentified as the active shooter, and the teacher can get to the task of comforting students instead of protecting them.

Opponents will also often say that the teachers aren't police officers, and that police officers should be allowed to do their jobs. Well, that sounds nice, doesn't it? Unfortunately, at Robb Elementary, the police were on hand yet they failed to do their job for 78 minutes. That means, for well over an hour, Salvador Ramos was able to kill. The police made a bad call and it resulted in 21 deaths. Could an armed teacher have stopped Ramos? Maybe, maybe not. We'll never know. What we do know is that the police didn't. Isn't having a slight chance at stopping an active shooter better than having no chance to stop an active shooter?

Or how about Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida? That's another example of police being on the scene but failing to do their jobs. As a result, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz was able to walk through the school, killing people along the way, simply because there was no one to challenge him, and no one to stop him.

In 2001 my daughter was a freshman at Santana High School in Santee, California. Her classmate, Andy Williams, shot 15 people, killing two of them. A 23 year old security officer, Peter Ruiz, was shot three times in the back as he was going for help. Peter is still a dear friend to this day. He doesn't mince words when he speaks of the incident. He told me once "Steve, if I had a gun I could've stopped him."

And not that it was a school shooting, but it shows how an ordinary person with a gun can have an impact: In December of 2012 I was living in Portland, Oregon and was in a store not far from the food court at Clackamas Town Center when 22 year old Jacob Roberts entered the shopping mall and started shooting. A shopper in the food court, who was legally carrying a concealed weapon (a Glock), drew his weapon and aimed it at Roberts. Roberts saw the man, ran into a stairwell, and blew his brains out.

You don't have to be a police officer to stop a shooter...

Parent/Teacher con-ferences would be interesting.

 

[Hellbilly]

Well, the reality is that they don't. But, if they did, how many security personnel would be sufficient? One? A dozen? My high school had a total of 74 teachers. Imagine having 74 people determined to protect your child.

Two on every entrance, checking everyone who enters the school.

But if the only thing that's going to prevent that is a teacher with a gun, wouldn't you want there to be a teacher with a gun in your child's classroom?

If that was the only way, yes. It's not the only only way.
My question to you is why do you think the only people who can stop these mass shootings are teachers?

 

[Open Bolt]

I couldn't care less about you or your guns.

Nonetheless, I'm still keeping all my guns.

It's par for the course that you believe your right to own one is more important that children's lives.

That's because my right to own them is more important than children's lives.

More to the point though, my right to own them doesn't cost any lives, children or otherwise.

 

[Hellbilly]

Nonetheless, I'm still keeping all my guns.

Cool. I'll keep mine as well.

That's because my right to own them is more important than children's lives.

Thanks for admitting it.

More to the point though, my right to own them doesn't cost any lives, children or otherwise.

Until you start using them to kill children.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I couldn't care less about you or your guns.
It's par for the course that you believe your right to own one is more important that children's lives.

When the left -- you -- starts actually giving a fuck about children's lives, we may be interested in talking. When drama and the crocodile victim tears cease and the adult buried deep inside decides to actually listen, possibly for the first time ever, we'll talk.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

why do you think the only people who can stop these mass shootings are teachers?

Who said that? Post number and quote.

 

[citygator]

So fuck it. Let the little rugrats keep dying.

more guns is not the answer. That’s moronic. Fucking insane even.

 

[eagle1462010]

They should offer higher pay for those who would carry. They would have to be trained and qualified by a professional to make sure they are qualified.

And for the pay some range time. Guns and bullets provided. How many per school.......depends on budget and those willing.

Better to have some armed should it happen than none. School shootings in the past show the police have a habit of being very late.

 

[Rigby5]

I would prefer the school hire armed security. Its not the teachers job.

The security guard in Parkland ran away, I believe a teacher would not abandon their students.

 

[Rigby5]

more guns is not the answer. That’s moronic. Fucking insane even.

If more guns are not the answer to crime, then why do we arm police?
I would much rather have armed teachers or ANYONE, rather than armed police.
Police are trained in military rules of engagement, which is to kill anything remotely associated with the enemy.
Teachers would refrain unless it was absolutely necessary.

 

[Rigby5]

I couldn't care less about you or your guns.
It's par for the course that you believe your right to own one is more important that children's lives.

The only way to save any lives is to have good guys with guns.
The bad guys will always have guns because they do not mind breaking minor laws in order to get their guns.

The reason we arm police and the military is that the only way to stop bad guys with guns is to have good guys with guns.

 

[Rigby5]

Yeah, but no one is saying that. Literally, no one is saying that.

It takes about 15 minutes for people in the military to train people enough to be extremely safe with guns.

Accidental shootings are mostly from things like infants finding a loaded pistol.

 

[Canon Shooter]

Two on every entrance, checking everyone who enters the school.

If that was the only way, yes. It's not the only only way.
My question to you is why do you think the only people who can stop these mass shootings are teachers?

They're probably not the only ones, but they're certainly the most present...

 

[Slade3200]

After every school shooting the conversation, sooner or later, becomes a discussion of whether or not we should allow teachers to be armed.

I believe we should.

I'm not advocating that every teacher be armed. The last thing I would want to have is someone who, for whatever reason, either cannot or will not use a gun properly. If a teacher doesn't want to be armed, I can respect that. What I can't respect, though, is when those who choose to be unarmed want to insist that others should not be allowed to be armed.

Opponents of this idea are quick to say that it's a bad idea, yet, thus far, every single one has failed to offer a valid reason as to why it would be a bad idea. Apparently, opponents are of the belief that a teacher can't be properly trained in the use of a firearm, or in the use of deadly force. I reject that idea. Once upon a time, every single person who is a cop today did not know how use a firearm. They learned how to use a firearm. If a teacher is smart enough to teach, doesn't it fit that the teacher should be smart enough to learn, too?

Let those who wish to be armed be armed, and those who don't wish to be armed can remain unarmed.

Often mentioned is the idea of "crossfire". Let's discuss that for a minute, because it's really an invalid concern.

In order for crossfire to occur, a minimum of two people need to be shooting at the same target, which is between them. Now, I'm not entirely sure why, but opponents seem to believe that once law enforcement shows up, an armed teacher will still be blasting away. That's simply not the case. A simple doctrine would be that the teacher secures his or her weapon when police arrive. That way there's no chance that the teacher is misidentified as the active shooter, and the teacher can get to the task of comforting students instead of protecting them.

Opponents will also often say that the teachers aren't police officers, and that police officers should be allowed to do their jobs. Well, that sounds nice, doesn't it? Unfortunately, at Robb Elementary, the police were on hand yet they failed to do their job for 78 minutes. That means, for well over an hour, Salvador Ramos was able to kill. The police made a bad call and it resulted in 21 deaths. Could an armed teacher have stopped Ramos? Maybe, maybe not. We'll never know. What we do know is that the police didn't. Isn't having a slight chance at stopping an active shooter better than having no chance to stop an active shooter?

Or how about Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida? That's another example of police being on the scene but failing to do their jobs. As a result, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz was able to walk through the school, killing people along the way, simply because there was no one to challenge him, and no one to stop him.

In 2001 my daughter was a freshman at Santana High School in Santee, California. Her classmate, Andy Williams, shot 15 people, killing two of them. A 23 year old security officer, Peter Ruiz, was shot three times in the back as he was going for help. Peter is still a dear friend to this day. He doesn't mince words when he speaks of the incident. He told me once "Steve, if I had a gun I could've stopped him."

And not that it was a school shooting, but it shows how an ordinary person with a gun can have an impact: In December of 2012 I was living in Portland, Oregon and was in a store not far from the food court at Clackamas Town Center when 22 year old Jacob Roberts entered the shopping mall and started shooting. A shopper in the food court, who was legally carrying a concealed weapon (a Glock), drew his weapon and aimed it at Roberts. Roberts saw the man, ran into a stairwell, and blew his brains out.

You don't have to be a police officer to stop a shooter...

Arm the Groomers!!

 

[fncceo]

View attachment 653611

I haven't met many teachers who could FIND Normandy on a map.

 

[fncceo]

I couldn't care less about you or your guns.

Good, then you don't mind if I keep mine.

I promise to return the favor and not care about the stuff you have lying around your rec room.

 

[Canon Shooter]

I couldn't care less about you or your guns.
It's par for the course that you believe your right to own one is more important that children's lives.

How does a law abiding citizen with an AR-15 threaten the lives of children?

 

[Canon Shooter]

more guns is not the answer. That’s moronic. Fucking insane even.

So, if your child was in a classroom and a shooter entered that room, you wouldn't want the teacher to be armed and may, just maybe, save the life of your child?

Alrighty, then...

 

[fncceo]

you wouldn't want the teacher to be armed

Where will they keep their gun in the drag queen costume?

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Armed Teachers

Is a dreadful idea.

Reckless and irresponsible, armed teachers would only result in more dead children, killed by teachers devoid of the skill, experience, and training to be proficient with a firearm during an active shooter event.

Indeed, there are sworn officers who lack the skill and experience to effectively neutralize an active shooter situation.

Clearly those who advocate for arming teachers have no experience with shooting handguns – semi-auto handguns in particular; shooting at stationary targets in the controlled setting of a pistol range in no manner prepares someone for an active shooter crisis.