Good grief. First of all, they are not "our kids," Mr. LaPierre; they are MY kids, your kids, and kids belonging to other parents. Cut the collectivist language and use your brain. Are you suggesting that we turn schools into armed camps that can refuse releasing their defenseless hostages back to their parents? Hell, we've got one school here in California that is installing high security fences with only ONE exit.
Until we can rid ourselves of the 19th Century factory model of education entirely, why isn't Mr. LaPierre advocating getting rid of "gun free zones" in schools and instituting free teacher training in the proper use of firearms and maybe even a foundation to supply them. Isn't that what the NRA is supposedly set up to do?
“free teacher training in the proper use of firearms” is just about the WORST tack to take in this unfolding new “conversation” we’re just starting. I hope no one pushes it , because IT ALONE will threaten to sink any possible progress in this issue. Have you forgotten how hegemonic is the control of the Teacher’s Unions, and how they can already dictate what teachers can and can’t and won’t and wouldn’t be obligated to do in their highly ritualized function as teachers?
No, the real answers to school security lie elsewhere and teacher involvement isn’t one of them. If you could find a place where their Union doesn’t hold sway and make policy for all of them, it might be possible you’d find some teachers who would voluntarily agree to have firearms ready
for use, but ready for use, hidden away in a locked cabinet along with the glue and crayons, has its own problems.
Far better to have at least one retired cop who’s used to carrying a weapon, and knows from his training how to use it.
We are just beginning to get a taste of what Israel has been going through for many many years.