Teachers with guns: Should teachers be allowed to bear arms in the classroom?

Teachers with guns

In the wake of the latest school shooting at Sparks Middle School in Nev., the topic of allowing teachers with guns into the classrooms is again in the forefront.

NBC News reports that over one third of all states already allow teachers to carry guns providing they have the appropriate state permits and permission from the school principal.

Educators are growing increasingly fearful for their personal safety and that of their students on school grounds.

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Are teachers with guns the answer?

Gun proponents say that currently there is not enough security in our schools and that the deadly school shootings as well as general violence against teachers and students in the classroom are proof-positive of the need for teachers to be armed.

Opponents fear that teachers with guns on school campuses will lead to more violence.  They fear that some teachers will be tempted to use their firearm, at inappropriate times, instead of contacting law enforcement.

A more realistic point of view is to really consider how effective teachers with guns on school grounds can be in the event of an emergency.

If a state, for example, allows a teacher to carry a firearm to school but requires that the weapon is in a safe, just how helpful is that in the event of an emergency?

Would a teacher be able to quickly enough access to their weapon and gain control of the situation?

What type of training should teachers receive?

Would there be annual refreshers?

More importantly, would a teacher or other school official be able to maintain a cool, calm and controlled demeanor and actually be able to fire and shoot at a student?

Is the answer to have teachers with guns in our schools, or  is the better answer to expect more from parents in raising their children responsibly.

How many parents do you know that do not even know who their school children’s friends are?

What about parents, as in the Columbine school massacre, who say they had no clue that their school age child was assembling bombs in their garage?

Eric Harris’ parents had no idea their son  had gunpowder, explosive devices and a sawed-off barrel of a shotgun that was found in the search of their son’s room after the school massacre.

If parents are held accountable for their child’s actions with the threat of a lifetime prison term, perhaps this will motivate parents to get their head out of the sand and actually pay attention to what their child is doing.

Related articles

• School massacres across the US – A problem that needs to be addressed.
• Light ‘Em Up: How the Sparks Shooting Provides a Blueprint for School Safety
• How First-Graders Prepare For Armed Gunmen Trying To Get In Their Classrooms
• Should We Blame The Parents Of The Nevada School Shooter?

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