What do you think - should teachers have locked guns in thier rooms at schools?

Question

I was reading an interesting Letter to the Editor in my local paper the other day. The writer suggested that all teachers should have locked guns in the class rooms, in case there is ever a school shooter. What do you think? I think maybe only the principle should have a locked gun in his office or maybe all schools should have one armed security guard on the grounds 24/7 in case events like this happen. Any ideas/comments?

his/her office*

I really liked someone's idea about a 'button' teachers could press if something were to happen that would send an emergency signal to the nearest police station. Could get them to the scene quicker.
Sad times we're living in! It's almost like bullet proof vests should be the 'school uniform'!

Answer 1

It is a sad day in our nations history when this question should even be asked. For years our family never even locked their doors, and now I am worried about my children's safety in the school (or anywhere for that matter). When did we quit discussing our problems to try to come up with a solution and start picking up fire arms? We live in a rural community and have several guns in our house, but they are kept dismantled and in locked cabinet. Our children know they are there and have also been brought up to know gun safety, that is not saying that they will never pick one up, times are so different now. But I hope that we have raised them well enough that will not be an option for them. Now to the question of teachers with guns. If we do not let our children take guns to school why should the teachers have em? Are we sure that one day they will not snap and use that same gun that was placed there for protection? It is unreasonable to assume the answer would be a definite NO. Panic buttons and levers in the school and an emergency policy will just have to do till we as a society think before we act!

Answer 2

It's such a hard question! I don't think all teachers should have guns locked in their class rooms. It's hard to say if even a principle should have on in his office. I grew up in a school and environment where it was unheard of to even talk back to a teacher and very much disciplined if you did let alone shot other people. We didn't even have a security guard--granted it was a military base school so there were armed security guards all over the base if something like that were to happen.

I would have to say no. I don't believe it's right for teachers or principals to have even secured guns in schools. I mean just look at all the teachers who molest students or take advantage of them. Goodness knows what they'd do with a gun if they could. I think law enforcement in all towns should increase that way if there was a safety issue at a school police/SWAT teams could get there quicker. I also think there should be a ((secret)) security alarm located in every classroom for teachers only that calls directly to the police.

Answer 3

Hahahaha

No. For the love of all that is holy, no.

That is a ridiculous idea based on paranoia caused by media sensationalism.

Did you know that school shootings and school violence has declined by 50% over the last decade? But since our wonderful news organizations have decided that's what should entertain the population at 5 and 9, that's what the population is worried about.

People need to wake up and start digging a little deeper than 5 o'clock evening news to see what's really going on in the world.

Answer 4

Wow. I didn't know Yahoo answers was completely populated by 2nd amendment hating liberals. For a contrasting view, yes, teachers should have guns in schools. It should be voluntary, and those without the proper training should be provided with such. But no, they shouldn't be locked up, they should be on the teacher at all times. That cures the "Oh NO, the kids will get hold of it" crowd's argument. If you will look into the Columbine massacre, you will see that although it was not reported by the mainstream press, (much too controversial and it might offend the gun ban crowd) a coach with a 9 mm pistol was a true hero in that fiasco.

Answer 5

Definitely not. What's to keep a kid out of the locked gun cabinet? Absolutely nothing, lol. When a kid wants in, they get in.

I think that's just asking for trouble and for more deaths. Not even the principal idea is a good one. No one but an officer should have a gun in a school.

I grew up going to public schools in Miami. I know all about school violence, drugs, and guns. By the time I went to high school, we had armed police officers patrolling our school at all times and at least one of them had a drug dog.

I finally went to a private school after I was in one too many fights, but they werent much better as far as the drugs (rich kids with too much money and nothing to do).

Answer 6

The more guns that are out there, the more chances there are for voilence and accidents. It is insane to even suggest to put guns in schools, locked or onlocked. We have all heard the strories of children who shoot themselves or others with guns that were "supposedly" locked up. Teachers are first and foremost; educators. We should not expect them do be able to handle a situation that law officers train for months and years for. A little common sense goes a long way.............

Answer 7

If the teacher has a gun that's locked away he or she might not have enough time to get it in order to prevent the shooter from hurting or killing the students. What about a stun gun or pepper spray?

Answer 8

As a former teacher who is currently looking for a job, I have to say absolutely NOOOOOOO!!!!! First, if the guns are locked away, how is that going to help in a critical situation. "If you don't mind waiting just a moment Mr. Gunman, I have to get the key so I can unlock this closet and get my gun." If the gunman knew of the gun in the closet, he would more than likely use it in his shooting.

Second, not all teachers are the upstanding, level-headed, decent individuals they should be. I taught in the public schools in the inner city for many years and I wouldn't trust some of them with my dog, let alone children or guns! Additionally, I wouldn't want to have to go for the extra training to keep the gun and to use it and when to use it, even though it might be interesting to learn. Remember, we'd have to not only know how to use it but know when to use it. We'd have to use it during a chaotic situation and make sure we shoot who should be shot. How many could actually use it at all?

Further, they are maintenance people who have access to the building and can get in where others can't. One of the adult cleaners during my time there, not only stole from classrooms, but sucked her thumb as she mopped. I can just imagine how long it would take someone like her to get into the closet. Also, they had broken into the nurse's office on more than one occasion to steal drugs like Ritalin. Imagine how they'd try to get ahold of that!

The button idea is a nice one, but I had a house phone in my classroom as every public school classroom did. Many, not all, had a red button attached for "panic" situations. Many didn't work! Many times I called to the office just to let them know a parent was coming up or for help. They tend not to answer the phone, especially when they know who is calling. It got to the point, for me, that if I wanted the office for something, I either had to ask another teacher to call downstairs or I had to call on my cell phone from the outside. They answer those calls within two rings, unlike 20 or more and still nothing with the house phones.

Better security is the number one thing to protect the occupants of the school building. My school finally had a video camera at the front door but the monitor was in the supply closet! Who's going to sit in a closet to watch that thing?

The school police officer had to be told by the principal, to wear a uniform instead of the tight, white, leather pants and low cut blouses she usually wore and that she had to patrol the school regularly. (I never did see her on the fourth floor.) She tended to get coffee and dish with the assistant principal in her office.

Visitors need to have passes regardless of who they are or why they're there. More than once, a woman stuck her head in my classroom as I was teaching, to say "hi" to a neighbor kid and when I as nicely as I possibly could, asked if she had a pass, she go off on me, telling me with choice words that she had the right to be in the building because her children went there. The people who give out these passes, need to not just let these people in with a "hello" because they know them. I had a student who's first name was "Tenzel." He was late and told the person at the door his name to get a pass. When he gave it to me, the student's name was written as "Denzel Washington." I laughed and he laughed, but really is it funny that these are the people responsible for a school's safety?

Answer 9

NO! A gun in every classroom? That would be a disaster waiting to happen.
Maybe the armed security guard.
Sad what schools have become these days huh?

Answer 10

No Way!
If some kid's psychotic and smart enough to plan a mass killing, then the kid is certainly smart enough to pick locks. That is just compounding the problem of school violence.