Posted on Feb 26, 2018
Opinion | I Was a Marine. I Don’t Want a Gun in My Classroom.
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Before the United States Marine Corps allowed me to carry a live M-16 assault rifle, I went through hundreds of hours of firearms training. Classroom sessions devoted to nomenclature, maintenance and basic operation accounted for more than two weeks of study before I even set eyes on ammunition. For weeks, I carried an M-16 without a magazine — a dummy weapon, basically. I secured it with a padlock overnight while I slept in the barracks, and unlocked it each morning before chow.
Opinion | I Was a Marine. I Don’t Want a Gun in My Classroom.
Posted from nytimes.com
Marines
Education
Schools
Firearms and Guns
Weapons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel I am a Marine that feels that letting teachers who want to carry, and are qualified should be allowed to protect their students. You do not see these untrained shooters taking on schools where there are armed teachers.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/us/armed-teachers-states-trnd/index.html
https://www.inverse.com/article/41606-which-states-allow-teachers-to-carry-guns
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/24/us/armed-teachers-states-trnd/index.html
https://www.inverse.com/article/41606-which-states-allow-teachers-to-carry-guns
These schools say arming teachers 'can be done right'
Teachers carrying guns may be a "terrible" or even a "ridiculous" idea to critics, but some school administrators are making the case for arming their staff.
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MSgt Steve Sweeney
Who gets to decide if they are qualified or not? What are the standards for "qualification"? Maybe teachers that were prior veterans... many people in the military get to handle a weapon and even fire on a KD course, but how many have fired a live fire maneuver course or stress course... And how many of those that did go on to become public education teachers?
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Sgt (Join to see)
MSgt Steve Sweeney - There are already school districts that allow teachers and staff to carry. I am not sure what qualifications have to be met, but I think it is a good idea.
http://www.caller.com/story/news/education/2018/02/22/texas-172-school-districts-allow-teachers-staff-armed/364677002/
http://www.caller.com/story/news/education/2018/02/22/texas-172-school-districts-allow-teachers-staff-armed/364677002/
In Texas, 172 school districts allow teachers, staff to carry guns in schools
While 172 Texas school districts allow staff carry guns in schools, the local AFT decried that idea after the Florida school shooting.
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SPC Les Darbison
MSgt Steve Sweeney - There licensed and the trained instructors who gave them the scales to get there CCW. And If that's not enough they could take Defensive shooting courses. One of my nephews and his sons have taken defensive shooting courses and continually practice and compete in defensive shooting competitions. I wouldn't want any teacher to carry who wasn't trained and confident in defensive shooting. But that person who is willing to become skilled and confident in his/her skills should be allowed to defend themselves and those they are responsible for. If it's only a few in a school or a few in the entire school district ppl knowing they are there would give those thinking Gun-free schools aren't soft targets anymore.
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Since I can't get access to the NYT opinion piece, all I can conclude is that Pravda-on-the-Hudson searched around until they found their man, and then either helped him write the article, or wrote it for him. As I recall from my active-duty days, there weren't many Marines who did not like or own their own personal firearms, in spite of how incrementally difficult the Marine Corps made for them to own/store/use them over the years. As to this opinion piece, I presume the Marine author has gone through a left-wing university and has become a teacher, and is commenting on some of the measures being discussed to arm teachers, or allow them to carry concealed in their classrooms. Well, if he doesn't want a gun on him in his classroom, then he doesn't have to, in line with his kinder, gentler principals (where'd he get those?). But for those teachers who'd like to be armed and able to counter any threats to their students, I think having armed teachers and spreading the word about it would be a deterrent to those looking to carry out their sick fantasies on school kids.
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MSgt Steve Sweeney
MSgt (Join to see) - Actually, I find it refreshing that you have so much faith and confidence in K-12 school teachers, especially in a combat situation. I, like you, am certain their tactics and execution would be above reproach. Heck, we should even give them a chance to compete in super-squad competitions. And in the very unlikely event one of their well aimed rounds does strike a student, I am sure the parents of said student will be comforted that the teacher was doing everything they "should", and it was obviously the students fault for getting in the way.
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CW3 Harvey K.
Sgt (Join to see) - I find it hard to accept that he claims the Corps "allowed" him to have his rifle. Damn! They didn't view it as anything but compulsory when I was in.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MSgt Steve Sweeney -
Apparently you still miss the point of being properly trained. So is it your contention that unless you're a police officer or soldier you cant be trained? That teachers are not intelligent enough to learn how to use a weapon?
Apparently you still miss the point of being properly trained. So is it your contention that unless you're a police officer or soldier you cant be trained? That teachers are not intelligent enough to learn how to use a weapon?
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MSgt Steve Sweeney
MSgt (Join to see) - Trained to what degree of proficiency? What are you training them to do exactly; simply fire a weapon, or to engage an active shooter in a school with complex layouts while crowded with students? How many hours of training would be required, and overall how many teachers? Who is going to pay for it, and who is going to pay for the liability insurance?
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Thanks for the share, but links to sites that limit unpaid access don't do much but turn into subscription ads for the site.
I wonder about the accuracy of the author saying he sat through 'hundreds of hours' of firearms training before the Marines allowed him to carry an M-16. More than two weeks on nomenclature, maintenance and basic operation? In 1979, the Army trained me to use the same rifle, and it didn't take anywhere near the amount of time the author says the Marines spent on it.
Any Marines that can relate their experiences on this subject?
I wonder about the accuracy of the author saying he sat through 'hundreds of hours' of firearms training before the Marines allowed him to carry an M-16. More than two weeks on nomenclature, maintenance and basic operation? In 1979, the Army trained me to use the same rifle, and it didn't take anywhere near the amount of time the author says the Marines spent on it.
Any Marines that can relate their experiences on this subject?
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LCpl Shane Couch
Sgt (Join to see) - agreed. I went through boot in the late 90's, probably around a similar time that this professor would have needed to complete in order to be instructing Grad students. We had two weeks of firearm training. One week of learning the weapon and the second was firing. I do not remember needing to disassemble my rifle and reassemble it blindfolded. All the time before the weapons training with our rifle was in order for us to get used to having it at our side at all times and to know exactly where it is.
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Cpl Scott McCarroll
FYI, LCpl Shane Couch I went through Boot in 73 and as part of the final test of what we had learned we did have to breakdown and reassemble the M-16. It was timed however no blindfold.
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LCpl Shane Couch
Cpl Scott McCarroll - right, we had to breakdown and reassemble in an allotted time as well. Again, no blindfold.
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