Quote Originally Posted by theGinsue View Post
Cstone and I are of one mind here. This comment was how I wanted to reply, but Chuck said it better than I ever could. My kids (now grown) are just as important as his kids are and if firearms inside of a school are so dangerous for my kids schools, then they're too dangerous for his kids schools as well. There is no gray area on this one, it's black or it's white.
Ginsue, I see a possible "gray" area here...and I'll ask before I being, that you try not to take my comments the wrong way. I'm not DISagreeing, but trying to point out something that may have been overlooked.

First, I am in favor of having trained armed personnel to help protect our students. I am reaching a bit, but assume* that these "guards":
  • are trained in Close Combat urban situations (...I said "reaching " right ?)
  • have access to Intel. during a situation (radio to other members of the team to find out what's going on around them, radio for backup, etc.)
  • train as a team
  • have weapons retention devices (holster locks and lanyards attaching pistol to duty belt, etc....again reaching)
  • etc.

*(this means I would HOPE they have taken some of these measures...)

I would be opposed to having Barney Fifes with 1-bullet serve as a guards.

I am generally OK with teachers having CCW permits carry in schools, but am concerned that they might need additional training, beyond that to obtain a CCW.
I don't think they could operate in the same capacity as what I outlined above for the guards, without more training, equipment, and organization.
I know MANY people who have a CCW, but don't practice or train at all...so just "having" a CCW does not, in my opinion, make them the "ideal" persons to wield a firearm to protect my kids.
Then there are other CCW holders that I would not hesitate to entrust using a firearm to protect my child's life.
In short, I don't think the CCW is a sufficient minimum requirement to allow teachers to carry in schools.

My concern is as follows:
When we speak of schools, we include K-12 and colleges. I'm thinking about the high school and college students.
In more troubled/rough areas, having gangs and other organized student groups, it would be pretty easy for a group of students to gang up on a teacher and disarm the teacher...or teacher(s). This would now pose a different kind of threat to the rest of the students, rival gangs, other students and teachers, administrators, etc. It would "kind of" (again reaching) be like a prison riot situation.

In summary, the gray area is perhaps teachers, under-trained, perhaps careless about allowing access to their weapon (in a desk, in a purse, in a backpack, etc. ), could pose an internal threat, if they are overcome by a student uprising (not the K-4 students, but high school and college students). I would be more comfortable with allowing teachers to carry in schools if the teachers had to "train and pass" some additional training requirements to carry in a school. At this point they are no longer carrying just for SELF defense, but for the defense of their peers, students and administrators. They have essentially become the "guards". I believe they need the additional training as such. ALL teachers would not have to carry...just those that want to and can meet the training requirements.

Your thoughts ?