Is Arming Our Teachers the Right Solution for Protecting Students from School Shootings?

In recent months, far too many times, another school shooter has wreaked havoc on schools across the country. Children (and many teachers) fear for their lives every day that on this might be the day that it could be their own school that is attacked. Many of the politicians seem to think that arming the teachers with guns might be the best solution.

But is bringing a gun into a classroom the best solution? There are a lot of reasons bringing another gun into the situation might not be best. For instance, where does a teacher keep a gun in the classroom?

On his or her person? Not a good idea in my opinion. The student doesn’t have to bring a gun into the classroom. The gun is already there. All the disgruntled student has to do now is distract and disarm the teacher and the gun is his.

Locked in a desk? Sure. During a stressful situation, a teacher must get the gun out of his or her desk and abandon the frightened students in his or her charge to go after the student.

In an unlocked desk? I don’t think so. Again, it is easy for a student to distract the teacher and get the gun out of the unlocked desk.

And even if the teacher has a gun and knows how to use it, can this teacher face down a student that they probably had in class and shoot the student? It is different for a military person to shoot someone that he or she doesn’t know than it is for a teacher (who is by nature a nurturer) to endanger the life of a student (or former student).
I really don’t believe that putting the gun into the hands of a teacher is the best solution.

Another Solution to the Crisis

Here’s what I feel would be a better solution. First, create federal legislation that hold adults responsible for all weapons that are in their legal possession. The parents should be held responsible to keep their guns under lock and key.

Second, federally paid for public service announcements explaining what can and should be done for students showing signs that an individual student is in mental and emotional distress. In addition, other public service announcements reminding parents to keep their guns out of the hands of anyone under 21 unless directly supervised by an adult. (This includes hunting).

Finally, I propose that teachers be trained on how to distract and disarm a disgruntled student in much the same manner that Jason Seaman did when he threw the basketball and rushed the student in May in Noblesville, Indiana. I believe that this training should be paid for through federal and state grants.

What Can YOU do about it?

I have always believed that if you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. So, let me share what you can do to better protect school students. Whether you are for or against gun control is not the issue here. What I am suggesting has nothing to do with limiting the right to bear arms. If you agree (or disagree for that matter) I would love for you to share your comment below.

In addition, I would like you to take it one step further. Contact your state and federal representatives and tell them to cut out the partisan politics. This isn’t about gun control. Next, share this link to this post to your social media, contact your local news outlets and let them know that you care about protecting our country’s children.