Armed Teachers: Safer or Failure? (Jesse)

5/1/2019

Imagine yourself as a teacher in class one day and out of nowhere, a gut-wrenching scream is heard and then a gunshot echoes throughout the halls. Who is his next target? You. Immediately, you tell your students to go to the “safe area” in the room, lock the door, and run for safe containing a government-issued 9mm pistol. The shooter was prepared for this day though and had made copies of every key to every room inside of the school. In a panic, the combination slips your mind and everyone in the room, including you, dies. In today’s world, school shootings have become common, so common in fact that legislation to arm teaching staff with firearms has been debated upon many times. Across the country, schools are preparing to face this threat of school shooters, but many are unsure of how to deal with them. Many ideas have been tossed around, but the idea of arming teachers comes up again and again.

I believe that to give teachers firearms would produce more harm than good and would do nothing to deter someone from committing mass murder. Everyone has a mental breaking point, no matter who it is. Now put a gun in the hands of a student or an instructor who has snapped and what do you have? Regret and pain. By putting a lethal weapon within reach inside of a classroom, the likelihood of death is increased dramatically. Some would say that we could eliminate the previous problem by putting the gun into a safe. That would create another issue while not even solving the last one. The new matter in question would be what I brought up in the story. What good would a gun in a locked safe be in a time of crisis? I wish I could offer a single solution to this issue, but much like how there is more than one way to eat an apple, there is more than one way to shoot up a school.

So, what are your opinions? Should we put guns in the hands of teachers or leave it to the professionals? Or is the a middle ground? What would you do to curve the school and other mass shootings? Tell us in the comments below. Like and subscribe to the Church of Jazzus Crackers too.

40 Comments

Rachel

5/5/2019 04:02:46 pm

Wow, what a vivid picture you painted. I can see that scene with horrible clarity and after reading press releases about various shootings in recent years, I never want to witness something like that. I would want my teachers to be able to do everything they could to prevent it from happening. This is why we should arm teachers in public schools. They are the ones in charge and are the ones who should be able to react if a threatening situation should arise. I believe that they should have to go through extensive training and psychological testing to be certified to carry a weapon. But, it should not be a requirement, as some people would not be comfortable carrying a weapon. I think that it could be extremely beneficial and could deter potential shooters because they would not know if there were going to be armed targets. Arming teachers has become very controversial in recent times, but I think that it could be a possible solution to the danger of school shootings.

Brooke

5/5/2019 06:39:03 pm

If teachers were to carry guns, what you proposed seems like the way to go. Not a requirement, but a choice. And only if they deem themselves fit to handle a gun through proper training and official confirmation.

Saylor

5/5/2019 07:59:01 pm

I couldn’t have said it better myself. It should be a choice. If the choice is made all requirements she be handled, including a license for the weapon.

Katherine

5/5/2019 06:39:33 pm

Teachers should be the ones that are there for us. Our parents have us go to school and trust that the faculty will keep us safe. I think that arming teachers could be a very possible solution.

Conrad

5/5/2019 06:47:17 pm

While it is a stretch, I think that it is reasonable way to work on stopping these things from happening. It should not be pressed on anyone though, it should be optional for those who want it.

Jesse B.

5/5/2019 07:15:48 pm

I can see where having a fully-armed teacher battalion might deter some potential shooter from entering a school, but how might the teachers carry those firearms? Would they be locked up in a safe inside the classroom or on the teacher themselves or something else? One potential flaw with this system could be that a well-equipped or strong student could break into the safe or subdue the educator, take their gun and use it against them and the rest of the school. I feel a better solution would be to increase police personal and/or equip teachers with tazers (the later being non-lethal, but still able to take out potential attackers. Plus, it would take less training to handle a tazer than a firearm).

Saylor

5/5/2019 06:18:40 pm

I’ve never fully indulged myself in a conversation on this topic. I believe we should all be protected, and if our teachers meet the qualifications and have a background check they should one hundred percent be aloud to protect their student if that situation ever occurred. Nobody should just be handed a gun, especially if they haven’t had a background check on the mental health. I personally pray that we will never have to experience something like a school shooting. Considering we do not currently have this issue I’m glad we don’t have to decide on this. If we were ever in the situation I would like to have some sort of protection, if that means our teachers then I am perfectly fine with that.

Brooke

5/5/2019 06:35:53 pm

Well said, we should never trust someone with a firearm with the expectation of them knowing how to properly use one. Maybe a lesser object would be better, something like a taser or a dart gun?

Rachel

5/5/2019 08:24:13 pm

I agree that there should definitely be background checks, as Saylor mentioned above. But do you think that a taser or dart gun would do the trick? Maybe a taser, but if it was a taser versus a gun, I think the shooter would have the advantage. The only way to even the playing field would be to sufficiently arm the teachers and administrators in the school.

Kenna

5/5/2019 07:03:33 pm

A background check is definitely necessary for this. I do think someone should protect the students.

Brooke

5/5/2019 06:28:15 pm

I believe the teachers around America should vote themselves, instead of citizens deciding what is best for them. The majority of teachers I have questioned have said a solid 'no' to the idea of concealed weapons. They do not have enough experience, it may cause more problems than solution, or they are simply not comfortable with carrying a gun. Even if teachers received training, only a few would be able to use it in real-time situations; no one can predict their fight-or-flight instinct when a panic induced moment abruptly comes.
Also, 'concealed' is simply a word in this situation. Everyone knows the weapon is there, which is as beneficial as it is problematic. For instance; the knowledge of a gun may either encourage those to make their shooting into a type of game, but it also may deter shooters who still have reason, if there is any. As for location, the gun would have to be worn on the teacher to have any effect. One cannot say "wait, I need to unlock my safe, don't shoot yet" while they waste precious seconds attempting to actually get their intended 'protection' out, load it, and aim.
A better solution, as we have mentioned before, would be a type of tazer or tranquilizer gun. I'm sure we could develop an effective method to do what's necessary yet not permanent.

Conrad

5/5/2019 06:42:22 pm

I like the option of having the teachers decide but should be by school, not countrywide because some areas have different needs.

Jesse B.

5/5/2019 06:58:35 pm

The idea of having the educators voting on the issue for themselves is one that should be implemented because they are the ones who have to take on the burden of a firearm in the classroom, not us, even though we are all affected by the decision. How you define 'concealed' is interesting, but true. Young students are a perceptive bunch, so even if a teacher tried to hide it, eventually someone would find out. I feel as though the tazer is a good compromise for this issue. It has the ability to render a shooter inactive all while being non-lethal, so in the case of a student going rogue, he/she would be unable to inflict any deaths. If you were a teacher, what would you say?

Sariah

5/5/2019 07:42:27 pm

A taser I think would be an amazing idea if we could figure out a very effective and efficient taser. Like what if we developed a taser that could only be shot with the teachers fingerprint or something so a student couldn’t steal it and use it. I also thing that the security systems in school aren’t being given enough attention. Especially in our school.

Rachel

5/5/2019 08:28:12 pm

I agree that some teachers would not be comfortable with carrying guns, but I also think that we are too quick to judge their "fight-or-flight" instincts. Most teachers care about their students. They are invested in them and care for their wellbeing, otherwise why are they a teacher? So, if a dangerous situation were to arise, I feel confident in saying that many would fight to protect the kids they care so much about. If training could help hone the basic skills and get them comfortable with a gun, I think that their emotions would encourage them to stand up against a threat.

Katherine

5/5/2019 06:37:49 pm

Last year, I felt safe in an environment with an SRO (Tom). This year, without someone like that, if there was a school shooting we would probably be screwed. Our school isn’t very safe. I heard omg he news the other day that teachers could go through a training that would be hours and hours of training and mental health screenings. I don’t think every teacher should have a gun, there are some that could not handle the pressure. If an SRO is not available, then there should definitely be an adult with a gun. Whether it’s the principal or the P.E. Teacher, somebody needs to have one.

Katarina

5/5/2019 06:56:12 pm

I agree I feel like if a person wanted to shoot a school they probably would be less likely to chose one that doesn’t have an armed person.

Jazz

5/5/2019 07:44:17 pm

How many adults do you think should have protection per school? Should it be determined by how many students there are or should it be like fifty percent of the staff or something like that?

Conrad

5/5/2019 06:39:14 pm

I am honeslty ambivalent either way on the subject of arming teachers. It shouldn't be pressed on teachers, as some don't want that responsibility. I feel like it should be optional for teachers if they want to assume that extra responsibility and workload (of training and other classes). I do also think that schools should have someone with a firearm such as an sro or teacher. Schools need the ability to deal with situations. Another possibility is having a nonlethal option that still dissolves conflict.

Katherine

5/5/2019 06:43:12 pm

I agree that someone should be armed in the school. It is such a more comfortable environment when someone is there for us. My parents felt a lot happier when Tom was at the school.

Katarina

5/5/2019 06:53:20 pm

I completely agree it should be fully the teachers decision whether or not they want that responsibility.

Kelsey

5/6/2019 03:04:45 pm

Nice use of our vocab word! I don't think teachers should have guns because it is risky and puts more stress and training on already overworked, underpayed teachers.

Katarina

5/5/2019 06:51:47 pm

Personally I think someone in the school should be armed. Whether it be a SRO or a teacher. Either way both adults would have to be put vigorous training to ensure everyone’s safety. In your theory the teacher can’t get to the gun because they forget the combination of the safe to get to the gun that would save everyone. But you also don’t believe teachers should have guns so if there’s no safe to forget the combination to everyone still dies. Why not supply teachers with the ability to protect their students and themselves.

Kenna

5/5/2019 07:02:05 pm

Training would be necessary in the situation of a teacher having a firearm. However, I believe it should be someone's else's job.

Challis

5/5/2019 07:27:29 pm

A guard of sorts would be great for schools. He would have to be highly highly trained though.

Kenna

5/5/2019 07:00:43 pm

I do not agree with giving teachers firearms. It would cause more problems and as already stated anyone can have a mental break down. However, if the teacher has the proper training than maybe, MAYBE, give them some kind of weapon. Not a gun but maybe pepper spray or something similar. Putting a firearm in the middle of a classroom is not something I can agree with.

challis

5/5/2019 07:26:39 pm

You are right. They would require a lot of training. Training that not all teacher might be motivated to do.

Jazz

5/5/2019 07:42:43 pm

I think that pepper spray could be a good idea, or maybe a long range taser. Who do you think would pay for these weapons?

Challis

5/5/2019 07:25:41 pm

Giving teachers guns would do more harm than good. When a person is in a state of anxiety they do not think straight. Teachers having weapons could result in shock and possibly firing a gun in the wrong direction. Only highly trained professionals should be allowed guns in a school zone. It would be difficult to be that much trained with guns on top of being a teacher.

Kelsey

5/6/2019 03:02:30 pm

I agree, giving teachers guns puts too much stress on the teachers.

Jazz

5/5/2019 07:40:26 pm

I also disagree with giving teachers firearms. As you said, no one is one hundred percent immune from having a mental break, be it a teacher or a student in their class. Not only that, training these teachers and providing them with guns would be pretty expensive. Who would pay for it? The state? The community? In a town like Salmon, we can't even get our people to be okay with spending their tax money on a new school, but I guess the story might be different if it involved guns. You know, since this is Salmon, Idaho. And even if the expenses are figured out, the stress of the added responsibility could push an instructor even closer to a break. Would guns be given to teachers statewide or would this be a decision made by a district or community? And what if the instructors themselves are opposed to having and possibly using firearms within their school? Do we only have certain classrooms with guns? Do we only hire staff that is willing to use them? I just don't think that this is an issue that we will ever be able to completely agree on, probably not even within our staff.

Sariah

5/5/2019 07:46:33 pm

How would you feel if we had a specific branch of state police force specifically trained in school shootings and then dispersed throughout the state in schools to protect students? Do you think that would help students feel safer and would scare the shooters?

Sadie

5/5/2019 08:10:17 pm

Also, teachers cannot be expected to work for the same amount of pay if they are put in charge of the lives of others. They would need a significant amount more money which is just not within a state tax ability.

Sariah

5/5/2019 07:40:57 pm

I strongly believe that the solution or prevention of school shootings is not arming teachers with concealed weapons. I bet if they did a survey in the United States on whether they would want a concealed weapon or not the majority would say they wouldn’t. It adds a lot of extra stress and takes up time they just don’t have. The extensive training that would have to be put into it is extremely costly and complicated and in the end I don’t think would even fix the problem. We need to think more defensively when thinking of solutions relating to gun problems in general. We have to be more alert and aware with the types of people that are committing these crimes. We also should look at when school shootings started to happen and what factors changed in our living that could contribute to people taking such actions. There are some major problems in our society today and we need to be more focused on what the cause of them is then how to “stop” them.

Saylor

5/5/2019 08:02:11 pm

You bring up great points. The solution is not in weapons. Any situation can be handled without violence. The only reason there are shooting in the first place is because people are allowed to have them in their homes and do not secure them well enough.

Sadie

5/5/2019 08:08:02 pm

We can do our best to defend a school but we all know that the problem is outside of that. Stopping behavior like that before it happens is best.

Jazzus Crackers

5/5/2019 07:47:29 pm

Join the cult.

Saylor

5/5/2019 08:00:37 pm

Gladly.

Sadie

5/5/2019 08:05:43 pm

I do not think teachers should be armed. Teachers are already paid little enough as it is and now we are expecting them to take further training with a potentially deadly weapon. Teachers are teachers, not gun wielding heroes. Some teachers have questionable mental health anyway. Many may deny its importance and treat it like a toy. Even a small act of ignorance or rage could be harmful. Not to mention that there is no point in having a gun if you can't retrieve it from it's safe. Only a trained officer should carry a concealed weapon. It's their job. On another point, instead of trying to defend a school from a shooting, we should prevent it from happening in the first place. These troubled kids often come from extremely broken families. We should provide better and more affordable psychiatric care to people who need it. Also, if a child is in a troubled home, they should be put in better care anyway.

Kelsey

5/6/2019 03:12:36 pm

Giving teachers weapons is a bad decision. They are underpayed and overworked so it would be overwhelming for them to add more training and responsibility to their work load. Schools should have a campus cop around at all times and better security within the facility. Also, our country as a whole should be tackling the issue of gun control and mental health - we should be assessing the societal problem at the root. Furthermore, few teachers know how to act under high stress situations, it would take them precious time to unlock a weapon from a safe, and who's to say all teachers are mentally stable.

Armed Teachers: Safer or Failure? (Jesse)

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