Arming is not the answer

Published 9:23 am Monday, March 5, 2018

As if any of us needed more of an impact to take notice, school and campus security hit closer to home this week when a Dalton teacher was arrested after firing a weapon through a classroom door. That incident comes a matter of weeks after a gunman’s rampage on a high school campus in Parkland, Fla. 

Tragic incidents such as these have revved the debate on whether arming classroom teachers is the kind of response needed to stave off another campus shooting crisis. 

We don’t think this is the right direction to go. 

With so many campus shootings in recent months, all cards should be on the table with regards to finding viable solutions for keeping our students and faculty safe during the school day, but arming teachers is not the answer. 

This action opens up holes for too many other things to go tragically wrong, even if the teacher has a concealed carry permit. 

More guns in schools is not a solution to a crazed gunman entering a school and opening fire with an AR-15. 

Arming teachers would require serious training and resources. The training alone on how to shoot a gun and then how to manage a dangerous situation would likely be extensive and more costly than most public school systems could handle. We must also not lose sight of the fact that even the most extensive training cannot fully prepare a civilian to defend yourself or anyone else when confronted with someone who has a semi-automatic weapon and no regard for human life.

It’s not as easy as simply having a concealed carry permit. 

Yes, there are teachers who are former police officers, military personnel or avid hunters familiar with weapons, but they are likely the exception not the rule. 

Our schools have always been weapon-free zones, and we must remain diligent with coming up with solutions to ensure that they stay that way for the safety of our children and our educators. No idea should be out of bounds when it comes to school safety, but arming teachers is not the way to go. 

We are not opposed to armed, trained, certified police officers or deputies in our schools. Teachers, however, have a serious enough job with educating our children to be successful, one that requires a tremendous amount dedication and focus already. 

That’s their job. That is what they are trained to do. 

Let’s keep their focus there and let’s all focus on a better solution to keep them and their students safe.