Should TEACHERS PACK SOME HEAT IN DANGEROUS SCHOOLS? (Share your thoughts)?

Question

Michigan Lawmaker Proposes Teachers Be Allowed To Carry Guns In Classrooms
September 10, 2007 9:46 a.m. EST
Ayinde O. Chase - AHN Staff

Grand Rapids, MI (AHN) - Rep. David Agema, a lawmaker from Michigan is proposing a new bill that would allow teachers to be armed with guns. The rationale for the proposal is that teachers need guns to defend students from attacks by both terrorists and other students.

Agema, a Republican from West Michigan, said he believes the measure would save lives, the UPI report on Monday.

"Right now, the only people who enter school with guns are people who intend to do harm," Agema was quoted as saying by The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press.

"I believe it will save lives if a kid or somebody comes into a school and starts shooting again."

Apparently he's not alone; the measure has garnered support from 15 other House members. However school officials whose schools the guns would be in are horrified by the suggestion that teachers need to be packing heat in schoolrooms.

I'm just left speechless by this," Grand Rapids Superintendent Bernard Taylor was quoted as saying by the Grand Rapids Press. "It hurts to hear we've come to this, that we're so afraid of children that we think we need to be armed to work with them."

He continued, "If that's what we've come to, I need to find a new line of work."

According to Agema`s bill the legislation would allow teachers, administrators or other school employees to carry concealed weapons on school grounds if they have a state permit to carry one and have permission from their school administrator.

Answer 1

No, absolutely not. Metal detectors perhaps, or even a security force in the school, but teachers with guns would not be a good thing.

Answer 2

Think about the message we are trying to convey. Is it that it is okay to carry firearms (or other weapons) and injure people? Or is it that such activity is wrong?

If the first statement is correct (we ARE trying to say its okay to carry weapons and commit harm) ... go ahead. Let the school staff (including teachers, principals, janitors, administrative staff, and so forth) bring in their weapon of choice and have at it with the student body. They would be responsible for their weapons ... for instance, the same weapons woudl now be much more accessible to the students, or they'd be somewhere where they wouldn't do much good in an emergency situation.

If it's the second one, though - no, do not allow more weapons into the school system. Prosecute those who do bring in weapons (be they students, staff, or the general public) to the full extent of the law - no exceptions. Make the punishments for that kind of crime stronger.

And reiterate to those who are thinking about doing something like that how much of an impact it may have on their lives ... like the simple fact that someone who has a criminal conviction (for misdemeanor or felony) may NEVER be allowed to enter another country. Or, if they manage to exit the US, they may be denied re-entry into their home country FOR LIFE ... simply because they have a criminal record. The record is independent of the criminal's age at the time, by the way - no difference (in international law) between being tried as a juvenile or as an adult.

Answer 3

In spite of the support by some lawmakers I am against the carrying of guns by teachers. Some teachers are very excitable. I can think of some teachers who under no circumstances should carry a gun.

It is a bad example for our child en. In spite of a few high publicized examples very few schools have been involved. There are also the possibility of a gun going off accidentally guns in schools being stolen and teachers threatening students with a gun.

Answer 4

This is a bad idea, what happens if a group of students trys to overpower a teacher and he/she kills the students, or worse the students overpower the teacher and kill him/her.

I think the right answer is if there are trouble kids in the classroom that don't want to be there anyways, make them work for 25cents a hour in a sweatshop where they get whipped and beaten until they can make 20 shoes a hour, then ask them if they want to go back to school so they can have a chance at a better life. Alot of those kids are going to say yes, the ones that don't let'em make me a cheap pair of Nike's, because the only reason I have to 90 dollars for some is because we have to pay to import it from china where they whip and beat the kids that don't go to school to make 20 shoes a hour, if we did it in America we wouldn't have to pay 60 dollars extra for a pair of shoes so that Nike could import them... Think about it..

Sonojudan
"America is ran by a bunch of cloak and dagger left overs from the cold war. Its about time for a change. Just wait until my generation gets a chance at forking this country back to greatness, assuming its still here."

Answer 5

It is a horrible idea. Teachers should not carry guns. If you pull out a gun, you better be prepared to kill the person. That is my opinion otherwise he will be back for payback later. If you can't defend yourself, you can't stop someone who thinks you might have a gun from taking it from you unless you make it like a prison. All you are doing is making a new sport to take the gun from the teacher. There is no point to it at all.

Answer 6

Teachers definitely need more platitude to deal with unruly and violent students, but arming them with guns isn't the answer.

All it will take is 1 student to wrestle a gun away from a teacher for there to be a tragedy.

Answer 7

if they only left the paddling in school we would not have to be answering this question right now and i feel that our educators have every right to be armed in their classrooms for the mere reason that these children havebecause of the no proper home training!!!or they to are running their own house-hold!!!you see parents are not even allowed to disipline their own children!!!so go ahead and allow them to controll the world cause i know its some great teachers who are leaving the class-room and i also know there are some coming strapped i clap my hand to those who do cause i also know there are children who are respectable and who wants to learn

Answer 8

NO, NO, NO

More guns means more killing, expecially if used by untrained personnel such as teachers.

Use metal detectors and more police on campus
MAYBE let them have mace or tazors but not guns.

Answer 9

"I believe it will save lives if a kid or somebody comes into a school and starts shooting again."

How can a gun save a life? Somebody will get hurt.

Answer 10

i speak from a UK point of view (corporal punishment is banned here)-arming teachers would be a bit over the top-but bringing back the cane wouldn't do any harm.