Should Teachers Bare Arms:

The debate is on once again, should teachers be able to carry guns to school for protection? Following the recent shooting in a Cleveland Ohio middle school, some teachers are asking to carry concealed weapons to school for protection.

They are afraid of finding themselves in another situation such as the ones that occurred in Lancaster County, Columbine High or Virginia Tech. These teachers, primarily claiming it’s their right according to the second amendment, "the right to keep and bare arms."

Several states have suggested a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns, but taking it one step further is Republican’s David Agema from Grand Rapids, Michigan and Frank Lasee from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ageme and Lasee suggest introducing a bill as early as next year, that would allow teachers and other school employees to carry concealed weapons on school property. The bill in question, specifies only teachers and other staff members that previously owned firearms and had received extensive weapons training, would be permitted to carry guns.

Each teacher and staff member would also have to be pre-approved by the school principal. Many parents, as well as educators are unhappy with Ageme and Lasee’s proposal, claiming there are reason’s schools are made gun free zones.

In my opinion, this bill is full of potential hazzards. As a parent my question is what if the teacher or staff member misses, is my child the backstop? What about teachers who want to play Dirty Harry? We all have had that one teacher that is quick tempered and thinks he or she is in charge. In the heat of the moment he or she doesn’t think, they react.

Is this someone you or the school district wants or trusts to have a gun in their hands? A teacher’s over-reaction to a student, could lead to more violence in the classroom. In Ohio, news reports stated that the metal detectors were not set up or in any position of being used. Taxpayers pay thousands of dollars each year towards education. These taxes are used between our schools, whether it is to make repairs, buy much needed supplies and books or to provide security equipment.

The intent is to educate each student and prepare them for life, but it also to protect students and more importantly keep them safe. As in Ohio, what good is a metal detector doing to protect faculty and students, if it is not being used and it lays on the floor in the corner at the school.

As I have heard time and time again, it takes too long for each student to walk through the medal detectors. As for security cameras in the schools, they either don’t have them turned on or they don’t properly function. In the event they are used, you can only see a particular part of the hallway, missing out on events that are taking place due to blind spots.

As a parent, it’s all about safety for kids, I don’t consider this bill a good thing. I think we need to take more measures, but by taking the responsibility of adding more trained security officers, taking the extra time and using metal detectors and re-positioning cameras for better angles and views. I feel these suggestions are better than allowing teacher to take the law into their own hands. What do you think about teachers and other staff members carrying concealed weapons?

Again, I had an over-whelming response with this article from parents, students and even with area teachers. To date, there has been no further talk about teachers carrying weapons at our local elementary, middle or high schools. I thank God, because there is no way in this world I would trust or put my child’s life in the hands of a teacher, staff member or cafeteria worker. No disrespect towards any of them, but they are not trained to carry and use weapons, they are trained to be educators.