I have been asked several times what my opinion on teachers carrying guns in schools is....well here it is. I will not be discussing it any further, I am giving my opinion on it, and that is the last that I will be discussing this issue on FACEBOOK.
My degree is a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a Sociology Minor. I'm not typing this to say that I am an expert in any way on the subject of guns, who should carry them, etc. I am simply stating that because for 4 years I sat in classrooms with police officers, DPS officers, FBI agents (some of which were my teachers), Sheriff's Department, Texas Rangers, ATF, etc. Most were wanting to rise in rank within their departments. Many were seasoned officers. I sat in the classroom with these men and women daily, heard their ideas, heard their stories, ate lunch with them for 4 years...and they earned my respect like no others. Their stories of what they learned on a daily basis, that allowed them to become better 1st responders were scary, heart pounding, enlightening, and inspirational. What I learned from them is that their learning on the job, NEVER STOPS. They have all had extensive fire arms training of course, as well as active shooting training, and just about any other training you could think of.......and yet, there are still scenarios that they face each day that do not fall into categories of expertise for them. Many of them have said that my job is far scarier than theirs....hahaha, but I know this is not true. I say all of this because, they all remember their first day on the job, they were scared to death, shaky, excited, ready to take on the world, and feeling like they had to think on their feet every second of the day. They were like this each day for their first week, month, and some longer. These seasoned officers spoke about times where their life was on the line, where they not only had to think of themselves, but FIRST think of innocent bystanders. Think, if they shoot, and miss, what will be hit? Is that a gun, is it not, what is it? all of these questions swimming in their minds at the same time...and they have been trained, DAILY for situations like this, and yet, there are still questions.
Putting guns into the hands of educators, and giving them extensive training, maybe even training like the ones I stated above have had......you will be putting guns into the hands of a rookie police officer on their first day pounding the beat EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY ARE IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE AS A TEACHER. Because if or when God forbid the time comes, that teacher will be a "rookie" police officer on their first day on the job, facing a shooter, that is probably armed far better than they are, and they have to make the split second decision to shoot, what if I miss? where am I shooting? are there students on the other side of that wall? that door? that window? Is that teacher going to wear a Kevlar vest every single day for the rest of their teaching career?
I am a teacher who loves my students more than life. I would give it up for them in a second, and want to protect them to the best of my ability. I am a damn good shot with a hand gun, but if asked, or required to carry a gun into my classroom, into my school....my answer would be no. In my opinion, that should be the answer of every educator out there today.
I do understand that there are communities out there that are FAR FROM ANY help as far as law enforcement. In many instances it would take law enforcement 15, 20 even 30 minutes to get there to help. These communities have to come up with strategies that fit their community. That I totally understand. That, in my opinion, would mean hiring security that is on sight, equipped, and experienced in law enforcement.
Unlocked doors coming into our schools are unsafe, my school included and we have armed law enforcement on our campus....that is a problem for me because in my opinion, no one should be able to walk into a school without 1 being buzzed in, 2 having ID checked, BY WHATEVER SECURITY THAT SCHOOL HAS IN PLACE, not the secretary, not the receptionist, not the attendance clerk, and still there should be questions as to why they are there. If a parent sees that as an inconvenience too bad. There should be a WORKING CAMERA ON EVERY SINGLE OUTSIDE DOOR ON AT ALL TIMES AND WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING......FIX IT! ALARMS THAT GO OFF WHEN AN OUTSIDE DOOR IS OPENED by force, as in "not with a key" ....KNOW who has a key to the outside doors, and do they still have that key? There are things that we need to do now, that YES COST MONEY, YES WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO IMPLEMENT, BUT NEED TO BE STARTED NOW! School board members, state legislators, national legislators, let's talk.
My classes know what we will do, who does what, and what goes where....in case of a lock down situation....we have a plan. As a teacher......DO YOU?
There are law enforcement experts in this area that have come up with wonderful ways to protect the classroom, no matter what type of door that classroom may have. THAT SHOULD BE THE VERY FIRST THING TOMORROW THAT WE TAKE CARE OF IN OUR SCHOOLS.
Governor Abbott put your money where your mouth is and give schools the funding to do at least the first step.
