Arming Teachers?!

 Some of my Facebook friends have written about current nonsense about arming teachers...

From Chris Parker's Facebook:

I’m a veteran. I’m a teacher. I’m licensed to carry a concealed weapon, and I own more than one.

And I firmly believe that arming teachers is a reactionary idea that ignores reality. It’s a fantasy.

Who really believes that a pistol wielding teacher who came to work to mentor children is going to win a gunfight against a crazed-killer armed with a rifle and carrying twice as much (if not more) ammunition? It’s possible, but very unlikely.

Arming teachers is just not a realistic solution. It speaks to our desire to stop violence with violence, but it doesn’t address the fact that a mentally ill person (or terrorist, depending on your label system) armed and with the intent to kill innocent people is capable of destruction regardless of what steps we take.

Fewer mentally ill people with access to firearms? There might be some realistic ways to get there. But not without facing some hard truths and working together.

Hattip to Ray Barton for sharing this cartoon.

From Chris Ozment's Facebook:

There is a current discussion about arming Floyd County teachers. As someone who has shot a lot of guns, been around guns my whole live, had many hours of training that is required by a job involving a gun, interviewed/hired hundreds of people who would have to be certified with weapons, made out post assignments and detail assignments involving individuals who would have to draw a firearm from the armory and go out in public, etc, I have made a general observation about the people I crossed paths with: In most cases, the specific individuals who are so gung-ho about having a gun are usually the absolute last people that you would want to give one to

I'd like to encourage Floyd County BOE member Jay Shell to do two things:

1. Go to the staff at each school. Ask specifically "Who would volunteer to be trained and armed?" At this stage, I'm assuming specific staff members would be known to Mr. Shell. I think that a lot of people who would be the first, and loudest, to volunteer may be great teachers, but they would probably be less than ideal candidates. Once a picture starts to form of the potential volunteer tactical team, ask your self who from these individuals can successfully be trained to hit a target, be competent in weapon retention, in maintaining constant situational awareness, and stay focused on all of that at the same time they are teaching? Who will master the criteria for using deadly force and be able to apply it in a fraction of a second on the spot? Who can make a quick accurate assessment of any situation and respond appropriately? Of these individuals, who is being motivated more by testosterone/ego needs, the desire to present a bad ass image, etc? Who has an accurate understanding of exactly what is involved in what they are volunteering for, the liability involved, the level of expertise and continual training that is needed, etc. This is not meant to imply that these individuals are not good teachers, but individuals with the temperament, ability, and proficiency to preform a job that involves carrying and possibly using a weapon are few and far between. Finally, in private, ask the experienced teachers who remained silent during the call for volunteers how they would feel about the specific volunteers being allowed to carry a weapon.

2. Talk to commanders of the various local professionals (Floyd County/Rome City SWAT/Tactical response teams, state patrol, GBI, the local FBI people, etc) who will respond. Ask them how half a dozen or so armed teachers in a school that is in the middle of an active shooter situation will fit in to their current response protocols. Notice, in the videos of past incidents, how everyone exiting the school (adults, students, etc) are coming out in a single file line with their hands in the air.

Sadly, we live in a world now where individuals who can respond quickly with firearms are needed to protect our kids, and us. I'm glad that we are having discussions and being proactive in attempting to keep our kids safe. Steps need to be taken, and response plans/drills net to be constantly improved upon, but adding armed teachers to the equation is not the answer.