Is Carson onto something?

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 12:59:32 -0400

Is really arming the teachers something we as Americans should consider? With the stressors teachers are already under to get kids to perform, are we now asking for too much? I added the pic of the POTUS as an pictorial example of stressors we could leave our educational professionals under. What do you think is a possible solution?

Ben Carson advocates arming kindergarten teachers

Just days after a gunman killed nine people at an Oregon community college, Dr. Ben Carson suggested more guns — not less — are the answer to school shootings.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 1:01 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:01:44 -0400

Not sure I am going for that one. Stick with security guards.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Oct 6 at 2015 1:03 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:03:07 -0400

Or every school have plenty of resource officers.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Oct 6 at 2015 3:02 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 15:02:26 -0400

This article states "arm teachers" as if we're drafting them into the military. The point of what people like Dr Carson and other GOP members are saying is that we should do away with the failed "gun free" designation and give our teachers/school faculty members a choice to arm themselves in accordance with the law. The article also stresses who teachers are already burdened to get kids to perform, well, isn't the threat of a kid coming to shoot them and their students something they have to stress over too?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 6:25 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 18:25:22 -0400

I certainly agree that gun free zones are just an invitation to a soft target. Allowing personal concealed carry or limited terms sounds like a good idea to me. (I support a fingerprint safe bolted to the underside of a qualified teacher's desk for sure)
Not all teachers need nor should they be armed. All the banther about cross fire is ridiculous All mass shootings at a school are solely intended to do the most damage possible, shooting back has almost always resulted in the perpetrator's death or suicide.
Israel arms some of their teachers and all in high risk areas with significant less problems that what we face here considering their risk level I think they are doing this right.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/12/30/armed-teachers-guards-key-to-school-security-in-israel/

Armed teachers, guards bolster school security in Israel

Americans intent on ensuring a school massacre like the one in Newtown, Conn., never happens again could learn a lot from Israel, where the long menu of precautions includes armed teachers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 10:23 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 22:23:17 -0400

I don't think arming some teachers is a bad idea. I don't think arming all of them are would be a good idea but having a person that is trained and is armed in each portion of the school is not a bad idea at all.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 6 at 2015 11:57 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 23:57:29 -0400

There are always enough teachers who are willing to carry if it came down to that. No need to insist that they all carry. I'd sleep like a baby if I knew that some prior service teachers were packing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2015 5:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 05:56:41 -0400

Being in the military most of us are in uniform and unarmed every single day. Most of us have had some sort of "active shooter" training, given a situation like these gunmen in schools. We've even had shootings on military installations. Yet no call to arm active military, the ones who it's literally our job to defend the country! Teachers need to teach, and we need to give them a safe environment to do it in, instead of having them do both. An armed teacher still has to turn and write on the blackboard and can't defend themselves.... We can't be so reactive that we don't think things through. I support the teachers if they want to carry. Let's support them by thinking it through and implementing something that not only makes sense but works.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 7 at 2015 9:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 09:29:16 -0400

Negative on arming teachers, armed security guards is the answer. But only those who have taken NRA-approved tactical weapons courses and are POST-certified.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Oct 7 at 2015 9:37 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 09:37:04 -0400

SSG Warren Swan IMO I don't know if arming teachers is the answer. They are there to teach. If they think security is a problem they should get some quality security guards.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Oct 7 at 2015 1:35 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 13:35:43 -0400

Its a tricky question because how many teachers are going to be comfortable having a gun at their desk? While may teachers are probably okay with guns and know how to use one, there are just as many who are not comfortable with guns and are opposed to them.
Having properly trained armed security guards is better or even hiring more police officers and assigning them to the schools.
We all know that Gun Free zones are nice on paper but someone bent on killing people with their guns is not going to stop because its a Gun Free zone.
Gun Free zones only apply to law abiding citizens not criminals.