Should Teachers Be Allowed To Carry Guns?

Tiny Texas District OKs It; Could It Prevent Columbines?; Issue Debated, On The Early Show

(CBS)  Could allowing teachers to bring guns to class help prevent Columbine-like tragedies?

The board of the tiny, rural Texas district of Harrold, near the Oklahoma border, thinks so.

It unanimously approved such a plan, to take effect this fall -- and the move appears to be the first of its kind in the United States.

Though the district only has one school and about 100 students, the policy could have massive reppercussions.

Board members note that the school is about a half-hour's drive from the nearest Sheriff's office.

But foes of the idea worry about the guns getting into the wrong hands.

On The Early Show Tuesday, the superintendent of the district, David Thweatt, who is very much in favor of the plan, went back-and-forth over it with the president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, Gayle Fallon, who vehemently opposes it:

[mandalay-bay]

Great, so now when little Johnny pisses off Mrs. Baxter enough times for talking in class, she can just shoot him.

[johnfjohnsto]

"with liberty and justice for all. Lock and load." The new way to begin the school day, ready whenever necessary to bust a cap in childrens'' left behinds. We will certainly know what classes are on target from now on.

[nirak2-2009]

To even consider this is criminal, but then Americans are known to be crazy when it comes to their guns.
Their Gun laws seem to work so well!

[lkemmler]

YES...They Should!

[lkemmler]

YES...They Should!

[danito123]

We''ve come to this? What a sad state for the human mind to be in. Mankind is really getting degenerate!

[armydog2]

no they should not be allowed to carry guns into a school.They are supposed to teach and be good examples to our children. This is definitely the wrong thing to allow.

[credibility2]

If they''re properly trained, licensed and certified, fine. Why should the thugs and punks who regularly enter school with weapons be given the edge? These types have made the schools a killing field. There are more insane kids than there are insane teachers. I say level the playing field.

[darnedsocks]

THIS IS TOO RISKY. THE KIDS WILL END UP WITH THE GUNS. TO AVOID A COLUMBINE TYPE SCENARIO, PARENTS SHOULD BE IN THEIR KID''S BEDROOMS LOOKING IN THEIR CLOSETS AND UNDER THE BED AND BE EMOTIONALLY "CHECKED IN" TO THEIR KIDS LIVES, THOUGHTS, AND PROBLEMS.

[jackp32]

YES, following intensive training for those who apply and qualify. The standards should be high. Those selected would have to undergo an intensive annual qualifying program also.

[mxsumich]

No. If we want to have the "right side" armed in schools, then we need to provide funding for police officers to be there. There''s too great of a chance that the weapons will get taken from the teachers, who will otherwise be distracted.

[adillon70]

ABSOLUTELY! After proper training, of course. This would be a deterent to the criminals who go on shooting sprees in schools, now knowing full well they can''t be stopped. I am all for teachers carrying concealed weapons AND airline pilots having weapons at their disposal. Time to fight fire with fire...literally.

[sweetchuckd]

This topic is heavily discussed on http://detentionslip.org. It also features other crazy stories in education.

[cusefanjapan]

This is past absurd so...why don''t we arm the janitors just in case all the teachers, deans and principal are killed during a siege? And then we should randomly arm a few second graders just to be "safe". We could even arm the sanitation people just in case they are in the area when a shooting takes place. New American motto: ARMS FOR EVERYONE! Live by the sword. Die by the sword.

[heuristic1]

Only the drunken, paranoid lunatics of Texas could dream up a bad idea like this one. By drawing attention to their fear and stupidity, they might just make an attack more likely, not less. Armed teachers would make a tempting target for the depraved, Columbine-like mentality. And we have the disgusting spectacle of a place of learning turned into an armed camp. THAT%u2019S an admission of profound failure.

[cusefanjapan]

I just knew this was an idea from people who live in that state where the "war president" is from. It just figures.

[heuristic1]

Texans have lost the art of leading by example. Their answer to homicide? More homicide by way of capital punishment. Their answer to guns in public schools? More guns in public schools by way of armed teachers. What kind of example is that for their kids?

Texas is kicking down the doors of perdition, also known as hell.

[tonkasmum]

I''m all for it. We live in a country where parents are too afraid to reprimand their ''little angels'' and so, those "angels" grow up without a sense of boundaries and of consequence. By all means, arm the teachers. If someone is going to have to step up because your child cannot possibly do wrong and decided to go off with a gun... I''d rather have said child shot than a dozen other kids who KNEW better.

[cusefanjapan]

A better motto is "If you decide to take out your classmates, you better do it fast because you''''ll be dead in 5 seconds."+
Your scenario never happens. I bring 2 Uzis and a thousand rounds and the teacher, Mr. Fife, 55 years old and shaky, has a revolver, Glock , whatever. He will be dead in two seconds especially in a scenario like Columbine, where I intend to commit suicide anyway. If I KNOW he has a gun, I off him (and anyone else who''s packing)as soon as I walk in. You gun nuts never cease to amaze me with your ridiculous arguments.

[ubrew12]

Should Teachers carry guns? Yes. And School security personnel should carry books. Its the way things are in America. Its why we keep electing people to office who double our national debt, outsource our jobs, and deflate our currency until we''re all Third World Citizens.

[hwy71so]

I don''t have a problem with this.

[ttiwkram]

The "problem" of teachers potentially losing their guns to students is easily solved. Simply let it be known that some of the guns are not loaded (without specifying which ones, of course). Anyone unfortunate enough to seize an unloaded gun would be facing several loaded ones in short order.

[neoconslayer]

diatreme is an idiot.
He doesn''t care how many children are killed as long as the killer dies too.
Oh, and if a feeble old lady puts her concealed weapon in an ankle holster, it is just the same as if she were a 250 lb linebacker when it comes to having her weapon taken away.
Or some *** like that.
I''m not really sure what his deal is, other than he lives every day in fear and perhaps needs a gun to get his mail.

[displeased]

Your scenario never happens. I bring 2 Uzis and a thousand rounds and the teacher, Mr. Fife, 55 years old and shaky, has a revolver, Glock , whatever. He will be dead in two seconds especially in a scenario like Columbine, where I intend to commit suicide anyway. If I KNOW he has a gun, I off him (and anyone else who''''s packing)as soon as I walk in. You gun nuts never cease to amaze me with your ridiculous arguments.
Posted by cusefanjapan

Your scenario has two problems. One, students shouldn''t know which teacher(s) have the guns. Second, if Mr. Fife is old and shaky, he shouldn''t be qualified to carry. So it sounds like your suggestion to prevent mass shootings is to hope they don''t happen, not defend.

[displeased]

I would feel more comfortable going to class knowing a trained authoritative person somewhere in the building may have a gun. It would certainly make it more difficult for the psychos to plan attacks.

[hwy71so]

Simply put, Texas is tired of being held hostage by the criminals who don''t care if the law says no guns. They''ll have them anyway. We are returning the right to protect self to the citizens and its working.

[jackmayoff2]

YEAH THATS OK FOR TEACHERS TO CARRY GUNS IF YOUR A RIGHTWING NUT JOB EXTREMIST

[heuristic1]

It''''s also the only state where people haven''''t become such limp-wristed prissy pant anti-gun liberals that ehy actually consider that the Second Amendment still applies.
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diatreme,

Owning a gun doesn%u2019t make you brave, it just shows the world what a frightened, no account creature you have become. But then, Texas isn%u2019t exactly a paradigm of intelligence or morality is it?

[ohohoh1]

YEAH THATS OK FOR TEACHERS TO CARRY GUNS IF YOUR A RIGHTWING NUT JOB EXTREMIST


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Posted by JackMayoff2 at 12:33 PM : Aug 19, 2008
+ report abuse

ahh yes until a kid pulls a gun in class and starts blowin everyone away...

[lfitts1]

As for automatic vs. semiauto, I''''ll take my good old .45 ACP combat pistol any day against a shoot-from-the-hip idiot with an auto-fire submachine gun. I''''ll get down at prone postion and put one Goldot through your heart while you are dumping ammunition wldly. Problem solved.

Posted by diatreme

Actually that''s why they hire teachers now--one of the qualifications is passing on the target range--it never fails to shock me how stupid and extreme the gun nuts in the US are--they still think they live in the wild west and have to pack heat--with all are guns we are less safe and there is more violent crime than countries that don''t allow gun ownership--maybe our thinking is wrong ???

[cusefanjapan]

Your scenario never happens. I bring 2 Uzis and a thousand rounds and the teacher, Mr. Fife, 55 years old and shaky, has a revolver, Glock , whatever. He will be dead in two seconds especially in a scenario like Columbine, where I intend to commit suicide anyway. If I KNOW he has a gun, I off him (and anyone else who''''''''s packing)as soon as I walk in. You gun nuts never cease to amaze me with your ridiculous arguments.
Posted by cusefanjapan

Your scenario has two problems. One, students shouldn''''t know which teacher(s) have the guns. Second, if Mr. Fife is old and shaky, he shouldn''''t be qualified to carry. So it sounds like your suggestion to prevent mass shootings is to hope they don''''t happen, not defend.

Posted by Displeased at 12:29 PM Your scenario also has problems. How do you conceal the fact that you are packing from 500 students every day for 4 years? Impossible. You think just because you give someone training on handling a weapon that makes them a sharpshooter? Got news for you, I was in the military and you''d be surprised at how many people can''t hit a target at 25 feet more than 50% of the time. You really think some school teacher is automatically going to become a dead-eye? You are dreaming.

[ohohoh1]

Owning a gun doesn%u2019t make you brave, it just shows the world what a frightened, no account creature you have become. But then, Texas isn%u2019t exactly a paradigm of intelligence or morality is it?






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Posted by heuristic1 at 12:35 PM : Aug 19, 2008
+ report abuse

what? frightened no account creature? whats sad is that others do carry guns, and yes they do kill people with them...fight fire with fire, dont let them keep on killin...

[dagrandma]

This is one area where my liberal leanings do not kick in. I have three grandchildren. If someone with a gun, be it a terrorist, a lunatic or a student, comes into my grandchild''s school intending to kill someone, I want somebody at that school to be armed. As it is now, our schools and many of our government facilities and manufacturing plants are an open invitatation to anyone bent on destruction because the people who work there are not allowed to be armed. I like to believe the best of mankind but reality is a little bit different.

[differnet]

I love how people who are gun enthusiasts have never seen a crime scene or talked to victims. This idea is so stupid. Most people loose their heads when shots are fired - even people with guns. The difference between arming teachers and police officers and the military is huge. The officers and military personnel train on a regular basis. They are forced to become accustomed to stress and crisis situations. Most people, even school teachers, will fall apart and panic in the type of school invasion that people are talking about as a justification for concealed carried in schools.

The first time one of these teachers get sloppy with their weapon and it gets stolen by a student, I hope they get fired. But hell, gun lovers are so in love with their guns, they don''t really care who gets killed as long as they can continue to feel powerful.

Before anyone is allowed to own, they should be forced to see what a bullet does to the head of a 5 year old. I''ve seen too many times where access to a weapon led to tragedy because angry people do stupid things. And if you think that it will never be you, then you are too stupid to own a gun.

[fralene-2009]

I have no problem with guns with one exception. I have read so very many horror stories of school shootings and the death of children from playing with guns. I believe that if you if you want a gun, then fine. But if an "accidental" death is caused, then the gun owner should be prosecuted just like any other criminal. There is no excuse for such criminal negligence.

[slim1h2o]

I see no harm in teachers carrying weapons in class.

How else are they going to deal with these Gangsta thugs, these kids of illegals that have no respect for American authority.

[displeased]

Most people, even school teachers, will fall apart and panic in the type of school invasion that people are talking about as a justification for concealed carried in schools.
Posted by differnet

They''re not forcing teachers to bring a gun. And even if no teachers have a gun, it doesn''t hurt to be ambiguous with the students or potential criminals.

[nolalou]

This is such an incredibly bad idea, I don''t even know where to begin. Introducing more guns in a school is not the answer! What safeguards will be in place to be sure the gun doesn''t get out of the teachers hands?

Back in February a former student walked on stage during a lecture and starting shooting people at random, causing massive panic! People , students and faculty alike were trampling each other to get out of the way. As tragic as that was, what if a faculty member, or student, starting firing back! With all the mass confusion, it would be next to impossible to know who was shooting at who, and my guess is even more would have died in the crossfire!

[mensarino]

Only in Texas

[cusefanjapan]

I see no harm in teachers carrying weapons in class.

How else are they going to deal with these Gangsta thugs, these kids of illegals that have no respect for American authority.

Posted by slim1h2o at 12:41 PM ********Now, the bigots chime in. Most school rampages have been done by whites, not "Gangsta thugs" and certainly not illegals. Maybe you should read up on violent American history and see which groups really have no respect for American authority

[armydog2]

I don''t get it, we are talking about a place of learning where we send our children to be educated. Teachers should not be armed. Don''t you think the whole problem with problem students begins at home.when do we take personal responsibility for our children when they are in trouble. this can only lead to nothing good.

[cusefanjapan]

I see no harm in teachers carrying weapons in class.

How else are they going to deal with these Gangsta thugs, these kids of illegals that have no respect for American authority.

Posted by slim1h2o at 12:41 PM ********Now, the bigots chime in. Most school rampages have been done by whites, not "Gangsta thugs" and certainly not kids of illegals. Maybe you should read up on violent American history and see which groups really have no respect for American authority

[blazercoach1]

cusefanjapan,

YOU are the bigot here. Why would you assume that "gangsta thugs" couldn''t be WHITE?

[pollroller1]

I have the perfect answer, hire a couple of Barneys and Goobers and give them guns to guard the school. hahahaha

[rushliberal]

Sure - if the stupid untrained in CQC teachers want to get ************ and have their gun taken away by young strong teenagers and used on them - let them.

Or

Next thing you know we will have Ex. Navy Seals teaching our kids on school.

I know I was pissed off when a Catholic school let the United States Military into our school to talk to 1st and 2nd graders.

[st1dagain]

Now, the bigots chime in. Most school rampages have been done by whites, not "Gangsta thugs" and certainly not illegals. Maybe you should read up on violent American history and see which groups really have no respect for American authority

Posted by cusefanjapan


NOW THAT IS FUNNY.. I NEVER KNEW THEY HAD A FUNNY SECTION HERE.. BUT I DO NOW...


Let the teachers carry.. for their safety and the safety of our children..

[heuristic1]

Texas gun nuts are the saddest, sorriest excuses for human beings I%u2019ve ever seen. They think their precious, dirty little guns make them invincible and solves all their problems. I am ashamed to call them my fellow countrymen.

[cusefanjapan]

cusefanjapan,

YOU are the bigot here. Why would you assume that "gangsta thugs" couldn''''t be WHITE?

Posted by blazercoach1 at 12:49 PM :Did you write it? Can you speak for the writer? The comments were still incorrect. Look it up. THAT is the MAIN point.

[slim1h2o]

cusefanjapan at 12:47 PM : Aug 19, 2008

Yup,, Start with the name calling. I believe its you that has the problem. Yes I said Gangsta thugs, I do believe that some white kids prescribe to that thinking, justs as much as others do. It''s their thinking, and what they find cool nowa days. By any color of person.

Go Back to Syracuse and get your G.E.D,, Go Cuse!

[ohohoh1]

Back in February a former student walked on stage during a lecture and starting shooting people at random, causing massive panic! People , students and faculty alike were trampling each other to get out of the way. As tragic as that was, what if a faculty member, or student, starting firing back! With all the mass confusion, it would be next to impossible to know who was shooting at who, and my guess is even more would have died in the crossfire!


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Posted by nolalou at 12:44 PM : Aug 19, 2008
+ report abuse

what? Someone walks on to the stage and starts poppin people and an authority figure shoots back towards stage would make things confusing??