School shootings have been on the rise over the years. While the cause of school shootings is a topic for another day, the solution is becoming more urgent. It cannot be delayed, that is the most important fact. Over the years, one possible solution has been suggested: arming teachers. We took to social media to ask you: Should teachers have guns in the classroom?
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Should Teachers Have Guns in the Classroom?
Statista.com statistics show that school shootings have been below 50 per year since 1970, when they began collecting data. This is except for 2006, which had 59 and 2017 which had 57. However, in 2018, something happened that caused school shootings to spike at 118. It remained steady for the next two years, before spiking in 2021 to a sad 249.
It is obvious that something has changed and things are only getting worse. Discussions about curbing it have been important up until now. We are now at a critical point in the discussion. It is also evident that anti-gun policies do not work. None at all.
Grossman, Lt. Col., speaks frequently on the topic of school safety and makes it clear that armed good men deter school massacres. Grossman points out that school murderers can continue their crimes until the armed opposition is present. Grossman often talks about the 5 Ds of school safety, which are denial, detection, delay, destruction, and deter. Grossman suggests that armed responders can prevent most school attacks.
Real Talk A Discussion
We like to hear from our readers on Facebook so we reached out to them. Is Lt. Col. Grossman correct? Is armed presence in schools the solution? Should it be teachers, if so? The majority of people agree that the answer is “yes” with some keeping it simple. While many agree that it is a good idea and some have conditions, others aren’t so sure.
Many people believe it’s a good idea, provided they are trained and willing to learn.
Throughout the article, comments such as “Only if they are well-trained and willing to do so” and “If you are willing to receive training and want to,” were common.
While there was some support for the idea at the time, the most vocal detractors quickly made the argument that it had more to do with teachers. Their argument is not anti-gun, but rather one of trust.
One commenter said, “None I’ve ever seen.”
Another comment was, “Most shouldn’t.”
Perhaps the most popular idea was to provide security in schools.
One reader commented that “No other than [the] schools should be surrounded by decent police.”
Another asked, “I’m not sure that this is a wise decision[.] [H]ow do you think about hiring veterans to manage school security[?] ]”
“No, they have enough work to do. A reader continued, “Security should be handled professionally!”
Another replied, “[T]eachers can easily get distracted doing what they do.” When their backs are turned, something bad could happen while they carry. Hiring professionals who are trained to look after your belongings and be available if you need them is a smart move.
An Armed Society is a Polite Society
The discussion shows that teachers should still be armed. However, most people feel that teachers should be armed. Many believe that armed presence will reduce the likelihood of shootings. The constitution must be respected, regardless of the situation.
One commenter said, “Should be up the individual school districts, based on the community’s wants.” Not dictated by Federal or State rules.
It is impossible to predict where this will all lead. We must address this issue now, and gun-control policies don’t work. They are actually making things worse. Once upon a time, students would bring a rifle to school from home. School shootings were almost unheard-of back then. They are now on the rise, thanks to some of the most successful gun-control policies in American history. It is time for us to pay more attention to the facts and find real solutions.
One commenter brought the issue to its core when they asked: “Don’t ya ever think how crazy is it that you live in such a place that you would even consider asking this question?”
Indeed.
The post Real Talk: Should Teachers Carry Guns in a Time of Rising School Shootings? Personal Defense World was first to publish this article.
