Wayne sent me this news story as an aside, and I have to admit that after reading it my first thought was how glad I was that I didn’t have any kids in Texas’ Harrold Independent School District. This isn’t exactly gadget news, and I’m not sure why it hit today as this policy change approval actually took place last October, but needless to say…I am flabbergasted and felt the need to share. Indulge me, please.
Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements
Don’t get me wrong; I completely believe in and support the right to bear arms as provided for in the Second Amendment, I am a gun owner myself, and I enjoy shooting clay birds. But let me say in no uncertain terms that I am totally uncomfortable with this idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if the guy who came up with this brain fart became the next Darwin Award winner.
I’m a reasonable person, though, so I was willing to hear the thought process that went into making the decision…
Superintendent David Thweatt told FOXNews.com the policy was initiated because of safety concerns.
“We have had employees assaulted before by people in the last several years,” Thweatt said. “I think that safety is big concern. We are seeing a lot of anger in society.”
He wouldn’t comment further on the nature of the assaults.
Well hold up! He says assaulted by “people”, but not what type of assaults, and “people” sounds awfully generic. Do you mean students? Other teachers? Ruffians off the street? I need specifics in order to be sold on this idea. Nowhere does it mention that anyone was killed (or anything even close), so why the need for a potentially lethal solution? And “seeing a lot of anger in society”? Isn’t that a good enough reason not to send a possibly harried and underpaid adult into a roomful of mouthy high school students?
So why can’t they just call the sheriff, if and when there is trouble at the school?
Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district’s lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target.
“Could make it a target.” By that reasoning, any populated business or campus sitting off a busy highway could be considered a target. Where do we draw the line? Is it really necessary to use guns when another, less lethal solution might suffice? Give the teachers tasers, and teach them the proper circumstances on when and how to use them; I would be much less shocked by that option.
Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization did not know of another district with such a policy. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, including in Texas, said Harrold is the first district with such a policy.
I have to say that I hope it is the last; this is just nuts. :-/
Link: Texas School District Will Let Teachers Carry Guns