In the wake of the horror we will forever associate with Sandy Hook Elementary, it is becoming evident that a call for “more gun control” is being met with a call for “more guns.” This counter-calling is suggesting that teachers be armed in the classroom.
While our second amendment right to bear arms served us well during a post-revolutionary war era, it is a dangerous leap in ideology to assume that arming teachers would result in a safer school environment. To the contrary, this ridiculous dystopian reaction would probably endanger our children more than it would protect them.
Should we now ask underpaid, overworked and unappreciated educators to also become an armed militia? Should the sweet little kindergarten arts and crafts teacher be expected to paste silver glitter on blue paper “and” fire a gun? Some of these teachers would be hard pressed to leave lesson plan instructions for the substitute teacher, much less how to unlock the Glock and pistol grip pump stashed in the teacher’s lounge.
The music teacher needs a teaching certificate and time logged in at the gun range? We no longer allow teachers to use a paddle, but now we are suggesting that they can pack heat and bust shots at their discretion? As of late, there are questions as to whether some police officers should be allowed to have guns, but now we are talking about giving them to teachers.
How many deaths, homicides, suicides and accidental shootings have occurred in homes where guns are kept? Why would we think that these same scenarios won’t happen in schools where guns are kept? In addition to us now worrying about deranged and unstable individuals bringing guns on school property, we may now need to deal with guns already being on school property. Some of these schools can’t even secure the AV equipment; so now our institutions of learning are going to be responsible for securing firearms and ammunition? Or will the custodian have the keys to that lock box?
This is a very slippery slope that such an endeavor would be embarking upon. We need to better think this through. Cooler heads should prevail. Evidence and research has proven that more guns mean more deaths. In an attempt to protect our children, let’s not place them in a situation that would put them at more risk of harm.
