Posted on Feb 22, 2018
Is it realistic to believe that a teacher could effectively defend against an active shooter, using an AR-15, armed with only a handgun?
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After the shooting in Florida many people began to say arm the teachers. But they over look that a police officer was there. As a Marine I understand how difficult it is to close on and take an active shooter even with the best training and equipment. During the Dallas shooting 11 police officers was injured and another 6 was killed. Out of all the return fire none actually hit the suspect. Infact the suspect was killed by a remote control robot carrying an explosive. The reason why the suspect wasn't killed by a well aimed handgun shot is because of what we call the fog of war. When the shooting starts panic and confusion set in and the way we deal with it in the military is continually to train for those situations week in and week out. But without a third of the training people are expecting teachers to be able to identify the location of the shooter, know the movement of other armed teachers, know the movement of the innocent students and staff, close on the shooter and fire a well aimed shot without putting any students in further danger. Is that realistic?
Active Shooter
New Politics
Children
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 489
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Your scenario makes it hard to disagree. Armed teachers might deter someone with a mental health problem from undertaking a crime spree. I really do believe that. Today's very liberal education system will never allow that and it's to the detriment of our kids. If the bullets are flying, and I'm a teacher, let's hope I have a gun instead of a ruler, because I'm about to die trying to protect any kid in danger.
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Not at all realistic. Here’s why: A teacher’s primary responsibility is to educate children, period. Of course a child educated only in school is an uneducated child (George Santayana). The parents bare the greatest responsibility for their children’s behavior.
Can an armed teacher make a difference? Definitely. However, there are many variables associated with “making a difference.” One being the level of training, competence, ability of a teacher. Prior service teachers may have a better chance in such a scenario. If the shooter was a former student, they will know the layout and schedule of the school. Also they have the element of surprise. If the shooter is tactically sound, expect the worst. Add that to the chaos of students running, ducking for cover and the mass confusion of an active shooter, the staff would have a very difficult time neutralizing a shooter. Can it be done? Yes but don’t expect the best results. Expect casualties both physical and emotional.
Can an armed teacher make a difference? Definitely. However, there are many variables associated with “making a difference.” One being the level of training, competence, ability of a teacher. Prior service teachers may have a better chance in such a scenario. If the shooter was a former student, they will know the layout and schedule of the school. Also they have the element of surprise. If the shooter is tactically sound, expect the worst. Add that to the chaos of students running, ducking for cover and the mass confusion of an active shooter, the staff would have a very difficult time neutralizing a shooter. Can it be done? Yes but don’t expect the best results. Expect casualties both physical and emotional.
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I think any teacher who wants to should be allowed to carry a weapon. I know nobody would have Even considered attacking my old high school. Then again we were a special case - I went to an all male Catholic military school in South Georgia. We had our own armory, almost all our teachers were vets (including 11 of the 15 priests), and my homeroom was the rifle range! (My homeroom teacher was a recently retired combat medic MSG) That's not even mentioning the technically illegal firearms we had in our vehicles in the parking lot!
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I hope they are expert in firing that hand gun, hope it's a Glock or equivalent, and put the pert down
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I ‘s better to have a weapon in the hands of the teachers than doing nothing. I cannot follow your points on this subject of not having someone in place save just one life. One man’s fears are the same as another. The perpetrators will fear if they face another shooting back. Cowards will move to the path of least resistance. Military train to so long hard to overcome the enemy with more power than the other guy. Civilians practice preventing or deterring the cowardly perpetrators over the children.
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There are plenty of examples of teachers, coaches, administrators standing between gunmen and students, just soaking up bullets. They should be able to shoot back. With anything. How many of these perps would even try this crap, knowing they would most likely meet armed resistance? Not a lone guard, but normal looking teachers and adults?
Being defenseless is not working...
Being defenseless is not working...
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It would depend on the teacher training and the element of surprise. Generally the teacher is out guns in this situation, but isn't it better to have the hand gun and have a chance than not have one and have no chance.
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Yes, it's realistic with the right training, conditions, and willingness. With that being said, it's one thing having a gun for protection, but it's a whole nother thing to point the business end of a gun towards someone and pulling the trigger, knowing you can take a life.
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Yers a police officer was there who did not follow SOP or do his job, instead remaining outside the building while an unarmed civilian went in. In the most recent incident, two unarmed students rushed the gunmen causing them to drop their guns and run. Face it, in most cases when the shooter has been confronted with an armed defender, they have retreated. Yes, they do not have the level of training we get in the military, but most of the shooters have even less.
The fact is it works in Israel, they have not had a school shooting since they armed their teachers.
The fact is it works in Israel, they have not had a school shooting since they armed their teachers.
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Some teachers are vets. Owning an AR15 doesn't mean you will be able to handle it when that andreline dump kicks in. Better than throwing books.
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