I certainly would not be in favor of making all teachers carry a gun, I'm only talking about the ones that would feel able to handle the added pressure. 

And for Goodness sake, none of the kids should ever have to see the gun.  I would never want the kids to be in fear at school from a teacher.  It can be put in an ankle holster or some other place on the body where it is out of sight.  The teacher should never even talk about having a weapon.  I don't think we have to advertise it.  That could lead to other problems that we don't need.  The other possibility is keeping the gun locked up somewhere and since schools are bigger than most places, the teacher would hopefully have enough time to get to it if need be.  Or some other person in the school like the principal or vice principal could carry a weapon, concealed, of course. 

I watch and read in fascination as this discussion continues.  Wiglaf, in my years of long term subbing, I've broken up a few fights in the classroom. CA Ed Code requires that teachers do so. On more than one occasion I have removed weapons, the more common one being fingernail files sharpened to knife capability. Easy to put into a purse and usually a female weapon of choice in those days. The worst was when a large group attacked one small and younger student and beat him severely. Would a gun have come in handy in that case?  I doubt it. They would have overpowered me and then possibly used it on me. 

Even though it's been many years since I've been in a classroom, even then almost all schools employed rent-a-cops. And some where I worked had "closed campuses."  Frankly, I never had a fear of an intruder, but far more
fear of some of the students in the classrooms where I taught.  A kid wigged out on meth can be a real problem for faculty and students alike.

Before I go I would remind those in this discussion about the location of the school district who made this choice.
Small town West Texas, would be the last place I would be concerned about a intruder.  A school district that serves just over a hundred students most likely hires few teachers. 

Yeah.

I guess the teacher (Wiglaf) wouldn't be the best source of information on what is required to teach someone.


Says you.

Tell me, was your life at a Military Academy different then the one you might have gotten at a public school?

Of course it was. So do you think the "going ons" of a military academy would transfer well to a public school enviroment?

I go to a regimented college and I can assure you that the uniform, command structure, demerit system, designated path for each class of student, physical training, etc. wouldn't be loved by my friends at "regular" colleges.


And what about the teacher that isn't trained to use a firearm? And what about the shooter who only thinks his teacher is a threat?

Dead teacher.

This law puts a bullzeye on every teacher in the system and may very well scare away new ones.


I'm all for the 2nd ammendment but you are so far outside of reality that it's scary.

You really have no concept of what a gun in a classroon DOES and COULD DO.

Wiglaf, I appreciate having this discussion with you and I applaud you for being a caring teacher (as you seem to be) I have teachers in my family and circle of friends and many would not want to carry a weapon.  The discussion of guns has to be made with care.  I was born and raised on the west coast (Oregon and then Southern California for many years)  I have also lived in Nevada, Colorado, Michigan and now in the South.  I am well aware of the different mindsets that live in different areas.  This idea will not work for many schools because some people are against guns in general or don't have any knowledge of them.  I'm not blind to that and they have the right to believe what they want.  I simply have a different view.  In my area, these people are professionals with guns.  They were raised with them, they are excellent marksmen and they make gun safety the number one priority.  We don't have gun accidents around here.  It simply doesn't happen because every precaution is taken.  Every safety detail has been gone over and over a thousand times.  Kids learn how to use guns at an early age and they have no problems whatsoever.  It is quite a change from what I grew up in.  It is a different mindset.  A mindset I have come to love and trust as I have come to love and trust the people here.  They (some of my teacher friends) feel there would be no distractions in school because they don't believe a gun carrying teacher would or should ever let the students know they have one in the first place.  I take offense at people assuming they would ever use a weapon to intimidate the kids to learn.   They would never take such actions nor would they ever resort to that kind of thinking.  Our teachers love these kids and want to provide a safe environment for them.  Since guns are a way of life here, the thought that this would in some way change their role as a teacher or errode any classroom effectiveness is ridiculous to them.  All it does is give some security in the event of a school shooting.  That would be the one and only time the gun would be taken out.  Again, I know this won't work for many places but it would work in others.        

Well, my good Major, I would have to say how little we care about what others think. 

LOL, Major Zee Lee, just used an incorrect term in his comment.  He should have said inane.

My Wife is a Teacher and so are the majority of our friends.  While I do not know wiglaf personally, I do know quite a few teachers personally that do disagree, as I do, with his theory.


  yes, life in Military Academy was different.  But, mine was not a boarding school.  I went home each day.  It was far more regimented then public schools.  There was no need to put a military press onto your uniform, nor spit shine one's shoes each day, nor polish your brass, nor march each morning at public school. That was different.  Also, back then if you broke the rules a large paddle with holes drilled in it was your reward.  But I went straight from public school into the academy environment without any "transfer" problems. I suspect that most students would be capable of the same.   A point was made that Teachers carrying would somehow change the Student/Teacher dynamic because of the "threat of lethal force".  I called this rubbish, for I know that it is rubbish.  Some of the most beloved teachers I have ever had the pleasure to know had appearances, I suspect most kids, thought of as frightening at first glance.  It is the person they were inside that gained the admiration of people they came into contact with.  Not their outward appearance. So, this in mind, I believe that children would not be affected by a teachers carrying a concealed weapon. a weapon, may I remind you, that the children would not even be aware they had on them.  I, myself carried a concealed weapon for a few years, and I can tell you from personal experience that the people around me and myself felt nothing but more secure, in certain situations, because of it.  Just the same as if, say, you would feel more secure to have a security guard walk you to your car late at night in a high crime area.  This is as natural, logical and real as your instinct for self preservation.  So, yes, I know wiglaf's theory is utter nonsense.


And what about, and what about....Do you hear yourself?
It should be mandatory to be trained if one is to be allowed to carry in school.  Without training I would not recommend allowing anyone to carry anywhere.  a student crazy enough to go on a school shooting spree will probably aim at someone pointing a gun back at them first.   This is true.  But, a trained shooter is far more likely to use cover and hit his target, as opposed to an untrained deranged shooter, who traditionally, just walk right out in the open and start firing.  Regardless, there are no guarantees in life.  This program will not, unequivocally, not guarantee anyones child's safety at school. But, ask me if I, personally, would feel more secure knowing my kids were at school with someone who I trusted, and knew was competent, responsible and trained in firearms.  The answer would be yes..  Keep in mind that I may be looking at it from a completely different perspective then you.  I've been around firearms all my life.  I'm a reloader and an, at one time, Certified NRA instructor.  My shop is in a semi-high crime area.  There was someone shot 3 blocks from here just last night.  I heard the shots from my office. I would like to be able to get a CCP for myself here, but they have made nearly impossible to get one in Los Angeles these days.  It seems like the worse crime gets here, the harder the state makes it to be able to protect yourself with lethal force.   I don't walk the streets in fear without a gun, but I know the potential for an altercation involving firearms is very real here.  Take it for what its worth.


  I think you and I see the same words in the 2nd amendment, but I don't think we define it the same.  It's just a difference in the mental conditioning we've been exposed to.  I see it terms of "The Constitution" guarantees me the right to carry a loaded firearm on my person anytime I am in public.  Carrying on private property is at the sole discretion of the property owner.  Thats how I see it.
  Also, Regardless of what you think you know about me, allow me to assure you I am fully aware of the concept and negative aspects of gun's in the class room.