Is it realistic to believe that a teacher could effectively defend against an active shooter, using an AR-15, armed with only a handgun?

I think that having teachers that are willing to be armed AND go through at least some rudimentary training, would be a deterrent. Like others who have posted here, I think that the would be shooter not knowing where and when he might encounter armed resistance, would give him pause. I don’t think there is one perfect answer to this question, or to the dilemma of a nut-case with a gun, but there are lots of little things that could be done to help prevent more of these horrible incidents from happening. I’ll say one thing, this retiree would be happy to volunteer one day a week in a local school, to help keep it safe. I work four days one work week and three the next (12 hour days), so I could spare a day. Make teams of two to roam the halls. Control the access to the campus, much like the gates of a military base are controlled. Stopping or at least slowing down a shooter before they even get in a building would provide a buffer allowing the building to lock down.
These are sad times and I don’t believe there is one big answer for any of this, but I do believe that there are a lot of little things that can be done to mitigate the danger of this happening in our neighborhood schools.

Why is it we say we entrust our children to the school but then are afraid of actually doing what’s needed. A teacher that’s properly trained is less effective than a cop that’s trained how so? If a trained person wearing a badge is good how is one without a banged bad? Are we to believe that only police can protect us? You do know that the USSC has ruled that the police do not have a duty to protect us right? The police are great at investigating the crime but not so great at stopping a crime unless they happen to be on the scene at the time the crime is committed.

Yes....Yes it is.

The question is why do teaches need to carry a gun? I feel that level headed teachers could and can get the job done IF properly trained. I personally know several teachers who have serviced. The 98 percent of those other teachers, I would not want them carrying a water gun!!! Plus, I have personally seen a teacher tried to pick an argument with a parent over the use of a bathroom, while was at school watch his daughter's volleyball practice. Teachers like this DO NOT need that power.
Because undisciplined kids will entice teacher draw on them or just plain take the gun away from the teacher and God forbid use it on the teacher and students.
It all starts at HOME. I send my kids to school fed, rested, well mannered and ready to learn. Trust me, I am not saying I'm perfect. They know that I expect them to BEHAVE. There are parents out there that do not believe its their responsibility to care, discipline and provide for there kids. I believe in helping out in the community and assisting the people in need. We live in a world that blames everybody else and it's not my fault, their whole philosophy is "what are you going to do about it or what can you do for me?" Schools are no longer Schools, they are day cares. Too many parents want the school teacher to discipline, teach their kids the right way. It longer about education.

I believe it can be done, but precautions have to be taken. First, not every teacher needs to be armed. That would eliminate the need for being on the lookout for multiple friendlies. One per wing or hallway would be enough. Second, training has to occur, consistent, effective training. Third, the armed teachers have to be volunteers. This subject came up at a conference of teachers I was attending. Every single teacher was willing to protect their students. About a third were willing to carry. Being former military, I was one of the willing. There were several who also were, and many who were not. It's not a simple solution.

Exactly what does the shooters weapon of choice make to the ability of a teacher or any individual lawfully authorized to carry a weapon in a school as part of its defense make?
What difference? Why do you even use the term AR15? As if this is some magic button that a second amendment hater would use with talismanic reverence?
OH WAIT! It is a gun that an idiot who wouldn't know one end from another would mention ... in other words liberal sheep who think that "Can't we just all get along?" is profound.
I am surprised that a marine would have such an obviously flawed premise in a post.
Liberals talking guns reminds me of high school boys talking about the merits of a Ferrari as opposed to a Lamborghini.... in other words talking shit about subjects they have zero HANDS ON experience with.. and of course acting as if they believed each other because to point out their ignorance would expose the whole bunch...
I think it's an apt analogy for the loudest voices in the antigun movement, always has been always will be.
As an aside... when the shooter a few years ago at a Virginia? College rebaked total mayhem with a couple of blocks with high capacity magazines I don't recall hearing any general hue and cry for the banning of Glocks with high capacity magazines. (Gee. I wonder why?)
After a fashion handguns of that sort are far far deadlier than a point 223 AR.
A 9mm slug is going to do one hell of a lot more damage on the way through than that rifle bullet..
My opinion anyway.
Might as well ask a jackass question which makes just as much sense.
"Is it realistic to think a teach with a handgun could defend against an "active shooter" with a handgun?"
( is there another kind of shooter besides active?). A passive shooter?
SSgt Christopher Brose

I am a child of the 60's/70's (born 63 in school till 81), most teachers in those days (especially male (a lot of whom were vets)) really could have frozen most school shooters in their tracks and just TOLD them to surrender the weapon(s). Can you imagine that grandmotherly teacher with the NORMAL respect given a teacher (back then) even putting up with someone with a weapon in her classroom/school? I am now the father of a teenager and it blows teachers minds (even teachers who are friends/neighbors/church members) when even though I have known them for years I refuse to refer to them by their first names when in their classroom/school situation. Teachers have EARNED that respect when I was a kid and CONTROLLED that school. That lack of respect is one of the reasons school shooters are doing this, less respect of the teachers, more "be their friends," teaching methods and this is coming back to haunt them. An extreme example would the death scene of Sgt. Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket," when he entered that head and started screaming that sent chills down my spine (I who had done USN boot-camp in the days of the 35 gallon flying shit-can (propelled by the Company Commander's well shined boot toe)) I know I sat a little taller and was definitely ready to receive whatever information R. Lee was putting out right there, but then I was not a psychotic individual (who had not been monitored).

The armed teacher is a last ditch move that is simply better than nothing. We need a layered defense of our schools just like we have for our President. Passive measures such as screenings, limited entry points, good communications and lockdown procedures. Find and flag potential shooters, treat them, isolate them and limit their access to all sorts of weapons of all types. An armed person(s) is the last ditch effort after all else has failed. Preferably this person will be an extensively trained professional but if we can not afford it a good guy with a gun may be the best we can do. No matter how hard you train how thing will go the first time under fire is unknown but good training definitely increases the odds things will go in our favor.

The last time the country as a whole had so many mass shootings was in the 10 years prior to the American Civil War. The lead cause was the issues that led to the Civil War.

I think it's going to come down to training and experience. While I'm certain there are teachers who in fact are military veterans, it isn't the majority of teachers. I'm thinking most do not have the training or the experience necessary to use a handgun without inadvertently hitting the wrong target.