Posted on Feb 22, 2018
I've been shot in combat. And as a veteran, I'm telling you: allowing teachers to be armed is an...
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An interesting basis for discussion. To be fair, this veteran most likely knows that "truth is the first victim of war" and if we can't speak the truth, we will never solve this (or any other) problem. So, here's the truth. (1) The only thing that stops a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun. In fact, in almost all of the incidents, the bad person has either committed suicide or attempted escape as soon as the good person with a gun arrived. (2) The best was of handling a problem is to prevent it from happening. There are many factors involved in prevention of crime and we need an honest discussion to identify and resolve as many as possible. Sadly, we vent our spleen after every incident and don't have energy left to even think about it until the next incident. We need to alter that cycle. (3) When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Thus, only arming cops is a sure formula for greater kill ratios.
I've been shot in combat. And as a veteran, I'm telling you: allowing teachers to be armed is an...
Posted from charlottefive.comPosted in these groups: 
Crime
Crime
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
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Like the author of this article, I am a combat wounded veteran and I think the idea of arming teachers is absurd. The primary responsibility of our teachers is to teach. In the extreme situations of school shootings or other violence, the responsibility of our teachers is to help get or keep the students away from the danger. If guns are to be allowed in schools they should be carried by trained professionals who know how to use their weapons most effectively. Off duty and retired law enforcement and retired military should be a sizable enough pool of candidates to satisfy staffing requirements in most locations. Having said this, the real mantra should be "prevention first." Guns do not kill, it is the person with the gun that kills. As we saw in this most recent incident the instability of the gunman was know and it was reported. Somehow this information fell through the cracks. CPT Durish is correct, "The best way of handling the problem is to prevent it from happening."
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MAJ (Join to see)
Two issues, first is preventative you don't need to army the teacher simply just saying that they are armed will cause shooters to look elsewhere for targets of opportunities. The simple fact that there were nearly no mass school shootings prior to the 1990's Gun free school zone's act. (literally more were killed last week then recorded mass school shootings before the act)
The other main issue is after a teacher has locked the door and is now waiting helplessly for police to arrive while the attacker has minutes to shoot open the door. There needs to be an option for a teacher who is qualified to carry. The simple ignorant belief that only military vets and police are uniquely qualified is foolish. Clearly you have never been to a practical shooting association course. There needs to be a performance test not an authoritative test regarding qualification.
The other main issue is after a teacher has locked the door and is now waiting helplessly for police to arrive while the attacker has minutes to shoot open the door. There needs to be an option for a teacher who is qualified to carry. The simple ignorant belief that only military vets and police are uniquely qualified is foolish. Clearly you have never been to a practical shooting association course. There needs to be a performance test not an authoritative test regarding qualification.
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SPC David Willis
MAJ (Join to see) I share his opinion that outside security would be best but not because teachers aren't qualified. Simply that in an active shooter situation if a teacher leaves a class or a group of students their authority figure and literal last line of defense just ditched them to chase down a shooter. The teachers main priority IMO should be yo get whatever students they currently have under their care out of danger. It shouldn't be to eliminate the threat. Now if they're armed that wouldnt be an awful idea but they should still be focused on getting who they can out.
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Maj John Bell
SPC David Willis - I agree that the armed teachers first priority is getting their charges sheltered in place, or out of harm's as best possible. I also don't think teachers should be "riding to the sounds of the guns." But if and when that armed shooter becomes an imminent danger that can no longer be avoided, I hope there is an armed, trained faculty member with something better than a field expedient weapon. Or if a target of opportunity should present itself to "end this now" from their "sheltered in place position," I hope they can and do.
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I wonder if teachers were allowed to carry tomorrow, how many actually would. Everyone Ive talked to has said they wouldn't and I know several teachers. I also am 100% sure some would choose to carry so Im not trying to make a blanket statement. Our teachers though are already underpaid and under appreciated and Im not sure how many would want an added layer of responsibility for 35k a year.
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SPC David Willis
MAJ (Join to see) 100% agree. That's why I was thinking something like an arms room where teachers draw and drop off weapons out of the sight of students.
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC David Willis - What a great idea, Security Consultant/Provider for School/Student Safety business(SCPSS).
With whats going on now, which would be a catalysis to provide such a business, that should be a good occupational Money Maker, and Student Safety factor.
And, I think parents paying a few dollars a month, like $10, and a school like the one I'm at, that has 1,200+ students, that will generate $12,000+ a month, for payment of providing Security/Safety for their Child (Justified), an annual income of $144,000+. And can you imagine, you having 5 schools in your district on a contract ($720,000+).
Such a business for Veterans to work at, who are already Qualified with Firearms and Security, would be a Win-Win event. What are your thoughts? "BAMM"
With whats going on now, which would be a catalysis to provide such a business, that should be a good occupational Money Maker, and Student Safety factor.
And, I think parents paying a few dollars a month, like $10, and a school like the one I'm at, that has 1,200+ students, that will generate $12,000+ a month, for payment of providing Security/Safety for their Child (Justified), an annual income of $144,000+. And can you imagine, you having 5 schools in your district on a contract ($720,000+).
Such a business for Veterans to work at, who are already Qualified with Firearms and Security, would be a Win-Win event. What are your thoughts? "BAMM"
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SPC David Willis
SGT (Join to see) Ha well I think those sound more detailed than what I was thinking, but yea those are great starting points! I could really see that spreading quick. We could coordinate with the local pd in great detail so that an element could be moving to or eliminating the threat while pushing them towards the police with out having to worry about target identification which would be difficult to do with teachers.
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