It has become increasingly obvious that schools are falling victim to violent attacks around the United States. That is because the security of the public schools in this country is pitiful. Recently, there was a string of four school shootings, leaving six innocent victims dead. In all cases, the suspects simply walked into the school and started shooting. I bet those teachers wished they had a way to help the children during the shootings.
In Israel and Thailand, most teachers are armed inside of school. In fact, since the 1980's, the Israeli government has donated firearms to schools in order to protect their students. Since then, school violence has completely ceased. It's time the United States followed suit and allowed teachers and staff, who are properly trained and licensed, to carry a concealed weapon at school. However, staff should only be able to carry weapons if it's worth defending the lives of innocent children.
The reason criminals target schools is because they are unarmed, advertised “victimization zones”. Schools provide almost no resistance to anyone simply visiting, let alone someone who has posed a danger to society. Does anyone wonder why we never hear of shootings at police stations? There are none, simply because they have the means to defend themselves if a violent situation occurs.
Some schools are taking “security measures” to help “protect” students. West Boylston schools, for example, are planning to install cameras in their buildings. What this would do to stop a school shooting, I have no idea. Even Algonquin's “lock-down” procedure is flawed. Any poor student stranded in the hallway is instructed to leave the building, due to the fact that they wont be let into any classroom for fear of the lurking suspect forcing his way into the class, regardless of the gaping windows fitted into each door.
Allowing teachers to have weapons in school is proactive, whereas installing an alarm or cameras is reactive. It would take several minutes for police to respond to a situation triggered by an alarm. However, armed teachers can end the violence immediately.
I asked some classmates about the idea of allowing teachers and staff to carry a concealed weapon, and was outright disgusted with some of the immature, distasteful responses I received.
“What if a teacher got mad and shot a kid?”
Some think that a gun can be easily snatched from a staff member. While plausible, in order for someone to do this they would to be aware of a few specific details. First, they would have to have knowledge of where the gun is located. Then, they would need the power to see through clothes. And lastly, they must posses the ability to pull a small object out of a holster from the inside of somebody else's waistband. Concealed means just that: concealed. No one would know who is carrying a weapon. And why is it that police officers carry openly and don't have a problem with people taking their guns?
There have been cases where firearms have indeed saved lives in US schools. In 1997, a Missouri student brought a rifle to school and began shooting kids. The vice principal ran to his car and brought his own handgun into the school to hold the suspect until police arrived. Although horribly illegal by modern laws, he did the right thing. He helped save lives that may have otherwise been lost.
Don’t get me wrong, I don't actually expect this to happen. Teachers and staff will forever be stripped of their second amendment rights from 7:20-1:45 day in and day out. They will never be allowed to defend themselves or their students. We will all simply continue to attend school, completely vulnerable to whoever wishes to terrorize a building full of children.
