Talk of teachers carrying firearms has been in the news recently. President Donald Trump was the first to bring up the idea following the Parkland shooting, “If you had a teacher with — who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said.
Teachers carrying guns would make it easier to take down a potential threat, but you can never expect or know when these things will happen, no matter how much you prepare. We also have to consider the downside to this “solution.” I could not even fathom the idea of having a teacher with a concealed firearm on campus. Looking up and seeing a gun on the hip of a teacher is probably the most terrifying thing students could ever see in their lives. It provides a hostile and anxiety filled environment for–not only the student–but everyone on the campus.
The Prospector wanted to see what the student and teachers think about arming teachers.
Freshman Kate Tobie said, “I wouldn’t feel safe because they have all that power against the students. And what if you got in trouble, and the teacher threatens to shoot you?” This brings up another point: What if a teacher loses their temper and gets a little too heated then ends up threatening the student, or accidently fires the gun?
This concern relates to an incident that recently occured in Georgia. On February 28th, a teacher by the name of Jesse Randal Davidson shot a gun in an empty classroom for no reason, causing Dalton High School to go on lockdown. In March of 2014, Georgia’s Governor passed a “Safe Carry Protection Act” into law which allows teachers to carry concealed firearms into school. The school’s principal described him as an “excellent teacher.”
Teachers are supposed to teach and educate students; they are responsible for our current generation’s knowledge. Guns are an unnecessary addition to their jobs. CKM teacher Ms. Jablonski said of the arming teachers debate, “The most ridiculous idea in a political debate full of ridiculous ideas… I wouldn’t like it if there was an armed teacher here. There’s a fully armed cop here so I see no reason.”
Another issue with teachers carrying guns is the possibility of a student getting ahold of the gun. Of course, the gun would be in a safe or on a holster with the teacher, but a holster is a simple clip and that’s easy to access. A kid having easy access to a gun is the same issue that caused the Parkland shooting in the first place.
According to the Los Angeles Times, there is 1 justifiable death in every 32 deaths caused by guns (suicides, accidental death, and murders). That number shows that no matter how prepared you are, or how trained you may be, guns aren’t always going to provide protection, as the presence of guns often results in even greater danger.
Arming teachers would only increase the possibility of a school shooting, not to mention that it would make everyone uncomfortable and fearful everyday.