Adding my two cents.
There has been quite a bit of controversy about allowing teachers to arm themselves in public schools. Critics say "blood in the halls" what if the teacher misses the attacker and hits another student..what if? what if?
Here are my thoughts:
A nutcase comes into school (a gun free zone) with a gun (criminals don't obey gun free zones) and starts a shooting rampage. Would you rather your child's teacher be helpless and just have to sit there and wait there for everyone to be executed or would you rather the teacher have an effective means of fighting back and protecting your child?
Most criminals are cowards. They only attack places with helpless victims. Do you ever see police stations attacked by crazed gunmen? They don't last long if they do.
What about training...what about it? Most concealed carry permit holders have more firearms training than a cop who maybe shoots a gun once per year for qualification.
What about a teacher going crazy with his or her gun?... Citizen permit holders are 8 times less likely to commit a felony with their firearm than an official police officer.
Forty states now allow people without criminal backgrounds or mental health issues to get a "shall issue" permit; which means the government can't just arbitrarily deny permits just because they don't agree with people carrying firearms.
These Forty states pretty much all passed their shall issue laws in the last 20 years. Each time a new state considers allowing qualified citizens to carry firearms, the critics scream "OK Corral! Blood in the streets! Minor Traffic accidents will become shootouts! Old west vigilante justice!
None of these situations have ever happened. Revocation of licenses is statistically insignificant and gun crimes by permit holders are virtually nonexistent.
The facts are on our side. Armed citizens have proven themselves to be safe, responsible, law abiding and well trained. What would make teachers any less capable and upstanding?
Teachers in Israel have been armed for quite some time and they have saved countless lives from crazed gunmen who were bent on killing innocent school children.
Don't our kids deserve the same kind of protection?
Labels: Guns
posted by Bill Rowland @ August 21, 2008
23 Comments
23 Comments:
This is a tough one. Imagining my child in a classroom with an armed teacher makes me nervous and safer at the same time. A really tough call.
AGREED!
I used to teach high school and I would have felt better knowing it was there I just wouldn't have wanted the kids to know it was there. It needs to be one of those top secret type deals.
You'll get no argument from me - not on ANY of it!
I'm in 100% agreement with you Hammer. I don't think every teacher my children have could handle the responsibility of a gun (hell, I don't think all my kids' teachers can handle the responsibilities of watching the kids), but I'd rather see them armed than see them as sitting ducks.
Most thinking people are on the same page...
Here's a story about a kick ass old lady who exercised her right to bear arms:
http://news.aol.com/article/armed-85-year-old-woman-stops-burglar/140029
As long as they have adequate training and regularly re-certify just like policemen do, I totally agree with you. Sad that we have a world where that is necessary.
I agree!
Question: Do you have to register and own a gun to go to a shooting range and learn how to shoot? Or can you go and 'rent' a gun there for like an hour? Is that a stupid question?
A fifteen year old was shot and killed in Central High School in Knoxville, TN today. Teachers need to be armed...especially my son the teacher!
I agree that responsible people aren't the problem. It's sad that so many feel the need to carry a gun for protection. According to Michael Moore, Canada has as many guns per capita as the States (a stat I find hard to believe but I suppose many folks in the country DO have guns), yet we have much fewer gun related deaths. I know in Toronto, many of the shootings are done with smuggled guns from the States, so again, it's not those willing to register that are the problem. What we don't have here is an atmosphere or general fascination with guns, weapons, the military etc. - constitutional rights to bear arms. Obviously, the US culture supports gun violence in some way.
I wonder if your government couldn't run a trial, perhaps starting with a few months, then a year, 2, 3 - to study what happens when certain authority figures in public facilities such as schools are armed for the protection of the civilians using that facility. If the existence of the protector weapons deters more violence or provokes it could be documented and the study continued or halted at the predetermined intervals. Arguing about it doesn't solve the issue, it has to be tested.
Well if the KIDS are armed....and they were in Plymouth Whitemarsh in Norristown where I went to school.
Here's a Ben Franklin quote, to which you may have been alluding with that pic (am I right?)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety."
I love that quote.
I've got friends, teachers, who ignore the laws and take pistols to work. They have permits to carry, but the schools don't alow it. i hope to God none of them ever have to use their guns, but those kids are safer for it. Only a fool responds to the threat of crazy people with guns by trying to disarm sane people. But then most gun haters think we're all crazy for wanting to have a gun.
Very thought provoking. I have thought the same about pilots. They should all be armed.
Hammer, where were you two years ago when I had a post with over 75 comments on the topic of gun control??? I needed more people in my corner.
"Don't our kids deserve the same kind of protection?"
I ain't for most politicians as a general rule, but Rick Perry nailed it head-on when he said that CHL holders should be allowed to carry anywhere they're legally allowed to be.
He particularly mentioned schools.
tweaker
It sucks the big one that this even has to be a conversation these days, but given the fact that this is our reality, I would prefer the teachers be equipped to handle the inevitable.
hammer - we could learn much from the israelis in every aspect of life - in israel EVERYONE is a soldier AND have you heard recently of ANY terrorist problems with their airlines?
no.
you.
haven't.
DECENT LAW ABIDING people know not to mess with authorities with guns - the rest NEED to be shot, imho.
Being a survivor of a violent crime I believe I have more insight than must. I could had been packing a bazooka and it wouldn't have prevented those monsters from jumping me and raping me. They were two homeless men who had a record of mental illness and should have NEVER been let out into the public! They were high on drugs which is why I state if you to care for the homeless give to your local church or organizations that supply food and aide for the homeless but think before you give money to a homeless man. Usually they use the money for drugs or drink, they know where to get food free. Still, what we need to do is demand that violent criminals do their full time and not released early that mental cases be safe in an institution. And be on the guard and join a community watch group. What is ironic is the fact that it was three gang bangers that came to my rescue and prevented the second man to hurt me. They were in the alley going to tag it when they saw what was happening to me they started to beat the hell out of the guys one almost killed one. They may had guns but they didn't use one.
I'll second the fact that this is a sad time. The Constitution guarantees our right to keep and BEAR arms. Limp-wristed politicians have infringed upon these rights, period.
There seems to be an irrational fear of firearms these days, and I just don't understand it. Far too many people are literally frightened by the mere existence of something that used to be as common around the house as a broom.
Fools.
Absofuckinglutely, Hammer.
And I agree with Tweaker. I get tired of seeing all the signs prohibiting guns posted in public places. And I don't even hold a CCW. Yet.
Yes. I do think our teachers need to afford our children more protection.
Are you sure you can't run for president?
I agree.
I agree.
I agree.
Plus I like guns. I mean, who in their right mind doesn't?
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