General Discussion

white_wolf

(6,238 posts) Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:06 PM Dec 2012

Let's arm teachers

That's the argument I hear a lot, but I have one major problem with that. At the shooting of Gabby Giffords there were a couple of people in the crowd who were armed, but didn't fire because they were afraid they would shoot someone else on accident. So, how would arming teachers help? The risk of shooting one of the children would have been too high. Stricter gun laws and more regulations would do a lot more than arming teachers.

9 replies

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Highlight:

Let's arm teachers (Original Post) white_wolf Dec 2012 OP

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. sarge43 Dec 2012 #1

Yeah it really doesn't make much sense to me. white_wolf Dec 2012 #2

Just an other non-sensical talking point etherealtruth Dec 2012 #3

They were also afraid someone would think they were one of the shooters and get killed Quixote1818 Dec 2012 #4

Good point. white_wolf Dec 2012 #5

I don't think that the solution to gun violence is more guns n/t Vox Moi Dec 2012 #6

I am a teacher at a university... polemic_realism Dec 2012 #7

We almost had this debate at my school awhile back. white_wolf Dec 2012 #9

Here is how it's handled by a small school district in Texas Lasher Dec 2012 #8

sarge43

(28,941 posts)

1. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:18 PM

Dec 2012

It's the equivalent to saying we should smoke more because that will cure lung cancer.

white_wolf

(6,238 posts)

2. Yeah it really doesn't make much sense to me.

Reply to sarge43 (Reply #1)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:19 PM

Dec 2012

And like I said the Giffords shooting proved the biggest flaw in it.

etherealtruth

(22,165 posts)

3. Just an other non-sensical talking point

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:22 PM

Dec 2012

More guns, more guns, more guns, more guns, more guns, more guns ... the official chant of the NRA

Quixote1818

(28,947 posts)

4. They were also afraid someone would think they were one of the shooters and get killed

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:24 PM

Dec 2012

If everyone had a gun then bullets would be flying all over the place by mistake. Everyone would think everyone shooting was a threat.

white_wolf

(6,238 posts)

5. Good point.

Reply to Quixote1818 (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:26 PM

Dec 2012

Arming the teachers would likely have increased the death toll.

Vox Moi

(546 posts)

6. I don't think that the solution to gun violence is more guns n/t

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:45 PM

Dec 2012

polemic_realism

(66 posts)

7. I am a teacher at a university...

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:48 PM

Dec 2012

We do not need guns in the classroom, that is so completely ridiculous. In addition to the previous reasons provided, is it not possible that some individual who also happens to be a teacher could go off the rails and use the weapon provided to them?

More guns is most definitely not the answer.
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"...

white_wolf

(6,238 posts)

9. We almost had this debate at my school awhile back.

Reply to polemic_realism (Reply #7)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:51 PM

Dec 2012

The state legislature tried to pass a law allowing guns on colleges campuses. It didn't pass, thank God. Still, it worries me that someone actually thought proposing it was a good idea. We do allow guns in bars for some inane reason I can't figure out.

Lasher

(27,598 posts)

8. Here is how it's handled by a small school district in Texas

Reply to white_wolf (Original post)

Sun Dec 16, 2012, 04:50 PM

Dec 2012

Texas School District To Let Teachers Carry Concealed Firearms

08/15/08

HARROLD, Texas — A tiny Texas district will allow teachers and staff members to carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings when classes begin this month, provided the gun-toting employees follow certain requirements.

<snip>

Trustees approved the policy change last year. For employees to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorized to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations; and must (use) ammunition designed to minimize the risk of ricocheting bullets.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/15/texas-school-district-to_n_119282.html

Another advantage is, school staff would be more likely than police responders to recognize students and fellow school employees. And of course, staff would be immediately available to protect schoolchildren from an attacker.

Would it have made a difference if the Sandy Hook School Principal, Vice Principal, and psychiatrist had been armed? I think there is a good chance that it could have.

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