Expert: Arming Teachers Could Make Them Targets
Credit mr.smashy/Flickr Allowing teachers to carry concealed handguns could make them targets in a school shooting, according to one law enforcement expert who testified before lawmakers Monday. State Senators held a joint committee hearing to hear ideas on improving safety in public schools in the wake of a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that claimed 26 lives.
“If there is somebody there with a gun that is not identified as a police officer, they’re at a high risk of being shot,” said Pete Blair, director of research for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. “That’s just the reality of the situation and danger of the scenario that the police officers are in.”
Two school districts in Texas already allow some teachers and administrators to carry concealed weapons if they are licensed by the state to do so. Those are Harold ISD and Union Grove ISD.
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst has argued that the state should pay for teachers to be trained in case of an active shooter situation. Other gun-related bills filed this legislative session include one to allow guns on college campuses, and another to reduce the number of hours required to obtain a concealed handgun permit.
I disagree. any prospective shooter would be highly discouraged from carrying out an act of violence if that person knew he/she would encounter deadly resistance from any and all teachers/administrators on campus. in fact, people would start being real polite, real quick like.