Arming teachers, parents? School safety discussion includes talk of guns on campus

theunion.com ^ | January 11, 2013 | Jennifer Terman

[Tailgunner Joe]

A campus safety conversation during a parent forum Thursday night at Union Hill School included talk of arming teachers to avoid a mass shooting such as the December tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. ....

Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tim Werner personally advocated Thursday night in favor of arming teachers with guns to the approval of some nodding parents seated inside the school’s gymnasium.

“Arming teachers is way above the pay grade, but I personally think it’s a great idea,” Werner said to an audience of about 50 attendees. “But there are education codes, which prohibit that in California.”

Parents on hand shared mixed views on such a measure following the meeting.

“I think teachers should be armed — at least those willing to be proficient,” said Jill Carey, a parent of a fourth-grade student. “You’re powerless against a gun unless you also have a gun.”

Another parent said he would be against having teachers carry weapons but considered an idea that parents could be trained to serve as campus security guards.

“If I had to choose whether teachers should carry guns, I would have to say no,” said Sam Barger, whose children are 9 and 7 years old.

“Their job is to teach and nurture children. There are other ways of protecting children … maybe training parents to be armed security guards is just one idea.”

Some school administrators and law enforcement agents said Friday that arming teachers with weapons would pose safety risks and challenges.

[umgud]

An armed good guy at schools is not a guarantee the bad guy will be stopped, but a gun-free zone with no good guys with guns is an absolute guarantee the perp will have his way.

I say the more the merrier.

[RandallFlagg]

I would love to know how many FReepers are actively volunteering to guard nearby schools since Sandy Hook.

I am.

[Tublecane]

Why do they phrase it as “arming” people? Why not just allow them to bring their own guns as they see fit?

[dragnet2]

Teachers are not even competent enough to teach, let alone giving them additional security guard duties.

Ya got half the parents unemployed, many are underemployed, many are qualified military veterans, etc etc...Have them volunteer...Offer them tax incentives for those volunteering. This will be a minimal cost to the communities...

Have the local government police perform background checks on the armed volunteers, maybe some free training, and then they butt out and let the local parents run the volunteer school security.

This is not rocket science or somehow complex.

Each school could have several qualified parent armed volunteers, in and around the schools during school hours allowing the teachers teach.

I’d bet the rent, more than a few qualified parents from nearly every single school in America would step up to volunteer.

[Dan Cooper]

Those teachers that have an interest and take the concealed carry training should not be prohibited from carrying at school. No one should know who that is, which is the point of concealed carry. It’s good to hear the Sgt. express a personal opinion in favor of teachers carrying. Rather than have some big program or new federal department, just let the teachers that want to, to carry concealed. Maybe that will only be a small percentage, but that will be sufficient to act as a deterrent.

[dragnet2]

Teachers are not even competent enough to teach, let alone giving them additional security guard duties.

Ya got half the parents unemployed, many are underemployed, many are qualified military veterans, etc etc...Have them volunteer...Offer them tax incentives for those volunteering. This will be a minimal cost to the communities...

Have the local government police perform background checks on the armed volunteers, maybe some free training, and then they butt out and let the local parents run the volunteer school security.

This is not rocket science or somehow complex.

Each school could have several qualified parent armed volunteers, in and around the schools during school hours allowing the teachers teach.

I’d bet the rent, more than a few qualified parents from nearly every single school in America would step up to volunteer.
____________________________________________________

In fact, it doesn’t even have to be parents...

How about those who live near the schools who are qualified, former cops, military vets etc...You’d get all kinds of good qualified people to volunteer for armed security around every school in this country.

Let the local cops do the background checks and all those parents and others living around the schools to develop these school armed security programs.

Have Americans became so damn stupid or fearful were not even capable of basic common sense, easy, inexpensive solutions?

[re_nortex]

Teachers are not even competent enough to teach, let alone giving them additional security guard duties.

Add to that, a good portion of them are union goons. I don't want my grandchildren going to school with a government educrat who is armed, dangerous and ready to ignite at the slightest provocation.

There's little difference between an union armed teacher and these thugs of the New Black Panthers. They're leftwing statists without any sense.

On the other hand, teachers who stand firm against the tyranny of unionism show good judgment and are intelligent enough to carry a weapon into any classroom as far as I'm concerned. Such non-union teachers are the good guys and could prevent the violence in schools (and elsewhere) caused by unhinged liberals like Jared Loughner and other such leftists.

[ri4dc]

We can holler for a solution, and we will eventually get one. Oh yes we will. The States shouldn't each have a different solution to this problem, oh no.

"We must act now and decisively"

the Won will say, and so then it will be. I suspect that before too long, while they are busying to gather up as many citizen's guns as fast as they can rifle through all of the registrations they have (pardon the pun), we will suddenly find we have two or three, or even six Union TSA friskers in every public school. Federally mandated, armed, badged and protected Union thugs frisking our kids daily at schools in grand TSA take-off-your-shoes, lift-your-dress and open-your-fly fashion. That's gonna be just great!! Isn't it!?! It will probably become the largest unionized federal police force this country has ever seen. Our schools will be completely safe forever just like our airports are now! Dream of it, just like rainbow colored unicorns. Then we'll have some random violence in some Mall somewhere and BAM! TSA in every Mall, etc, indefinite. Since there is no budget problem, and no perceptible federal spending limit, there is nothing to stop this but some executive order, or by a deemed-passed bill in DC. It's just so SIMPLE! It will solve the unemployment problem, you see? Anyone against it? Well they are just those crazy 'Righters'. Who believes in that silly old bill of rights anymore? Your guess is as good as mine what color their shirts will be, but you can bet they will be wearing shiny badges and smiles and as they keep YOUR child safe and silen_, eh I mean sound. Shhhhh! Coming soon to a school near you, but don't tell anyone.

[kingu]

Teachers are citizens, and the 2nd says that the government shall not infringe on their rights to keep and bear arms. Remove the rules that forbid those with a valid concealed carry license from exercising their rights as citizens on campus.

Aww, heck, and buy a damn shotgun and some shells for the school office. Deduct it from the coffee budget, err, I guess really only the creamer budget.

[Plumberman27]

Has anyone done a study on how this violence has increased dramatically since we started mainstreaming students with mental disabilities? How many of these mass shootings have occurred since the mentally deficient have been placed in the normal kids rooms? How many of these shooters have been on prescribed drugs to adjust their behavior isms? When will the psychiatrists be held responsible?

[Tunehead54]

If we could change the lexicon of “gun free zones” to “Free Fire Killing Zones For Nuts Or Terrorists” (maybe with signs) it might sink into even the most liberal that its a bad idea.

This whole gun free zone thing doesn’t really seem to deter those nuts intent on mayhem and then suicide. I can provide several examples.

I live within 1000 feet of a school and I cannot carry even with a CCW on my porch? I disagree. I’ve done all I could do to be “legal”.

It took 200 years but the SCOTUS is finally is edging towards what “shall not be infringed” means. One more Obama appointment or Robert’s continuing dementia and that could change just like that. ;-(

[ballplayer]

Everyone is overlooking the fact if Policemen are allowed in the school they will also be carrying a GUN! Oh My goodness,maybe they will allow the Policemen,but Definitely NOT the GUN,there is No telling what it might do.