[bluemountains]

Okay, I don't know if this is a bp subject, but for me it definitely is! I saw some politician on tv saying that teachers should be armed in order to protect students.
I am a teacher, and I am great at it, but I cannot imagine having to learn to shoot a gun. Plus, where would I keep the gun? I can barely keep up with the ipods, computers, and laptops. I also have a tough time keeping covers for the thermometer, bandaids, and emergency forms. I also have to remember to take out the walkie-talkie every time my students leave the classroom.
I will do all that I can do to protect the children that I teach, I love them and I would do for them the same as my own children, and I believe that my children's teachers have the same level of love and commitment when they are teaching my children.
But a gun?? There is no way that I can add this to my job description.
If you are a praying person, please pray for the safety of our children!
Bluemountains

[~Christina]

I think teachers should be legally aloud to carry a gun into the classroom if they WANT to, I also think every school needs to have a police officer on site.

just my opinion of course~

[Onecoldday]

I saw that. It's mainly the NRA pushing for it, but what they were saying was armed and trained guards at schools I believe. I may be wrong though. but none the less the world is a scary place, and I feel bad for the kids no one should feel fear at school.

Firstly, I have to say how absolutely horrifying the shooting at Newtown this week was. I live in New Zealand, and I think all New Zealanders have shared in the grief of America. I feel sorry for all Americans living in a society where guns are so readily available. The thought of a teacher being armed is terrifying to me. Here in New Zealand , guns are illegal unless used for hunting purposes, and even then it is a mission to obtain a permit. I was shocked to the core to hear that in the states you can buy guns through *****art!!! Isn't that a department store? I am so glad I live in NZ at the moment. Of course, we do have crime, but my little country feels like paradise right now.. The use of guns in the US is insane!! Even toy guns are banned here in a lot of places eg schools, playgrounds etc. Unfortunately, i dont think it will ever change in America, its madness!

Also a teacher here and want NOTHING to do with guns in school, particularly in the classroom. We do have a police officer on campus (not just a security guard) and that is more than sufficient. I didn't go into teaching with having to carry a gun to be part of my job description. It isn't necessary, nor would it really be particularly helpful. These kinds of tragedies are a compilation of many different problems, but adding more guns to the equation will only serve to complicate the problems, and I truly feel it will make schools LESS safe rather than MORE safe.

[Anika.]

I also think more guns will bring more violence. In my opinion guns themselves are a violent weapon, they are designed with the purpose to kill, not with the purpose to bring peace. having even more guns somehow really doesn't seem like it will bring more peace.

A police officer or security at the school might be a better option, but it's really quite sad that it is needed. There are so many factors contributing to these situations happening in the states, all of the need to be adressed including the amount of weaponry. More guns than citizens... It's a problem.

We have crime here too, but no where near this scale, we have guns..no where near this scale, no these types of guns. A lot of countries that have less guns also have less crime like this, it would seem it actually does make a difference.

I think it's I dunno..I am frustrated just watching. Every time there is an event like this gun sales increase, and the incidents just keep coming, with less time in between. It really does not make sense.

The saying guns don't kill people, people kill people... No actually guns kill..it is their first and foremost purpose. You know why hunters use guns? Cause they kill. They both kill.

I am not american, but when I went down there in the summer, I did not feel safe. The poverty and crime in so many places was not what I expected, the ammount of guns, ammo, and pawn shops loaded to the hilts with weaponry was crazy. I have never seen so many guns before. It seemed like an obsession. Living in the great white north, people here do hunt, but I cannot even tell you where to buy a gun in my city, I think there might be one gun/shooting range, do they sell guns.. I don't know. Weirder yet.. I only know of one person who owns a simple hunting riffle.

I agree that it's a complicated combination of problems, but guns are part of that complicated combo. I care deeply about my american neighbours, I really hope things will change.

I think the worlds right to be free from violence and weapons outweighs anyones right to own weaponry. I wish weapons were never created. And yes BlueM I will pray for the safety of all children of the world who have to face violence.

[Trippin2.0]

Armed teachers? Jordan would outright refuse to go to school, and I wouldn't blame her. Crime is rampant here, but never on the scale of an actual massacre, mostly drugs, theft, and hijackings. Guns are illegal, you have to get a special permit pertaining to your job. In our crappy neighbourhood we have neighbourhood watch volunteers who assist at most schools to keep kids in line, and unsavoury characters out, so far our schools have been quite safe. These mass killings are scary, my heart bleeds

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by morethingswrong

I think teachers should be legally aloud to carry a gun into the classroom if they WANT to, I also think every school needs to have a police officer on site.

just my opinion of course~

Sorry, Christina, I can't agree with you on this one. Having a gun in a classroom full of students is a very scary thought. Yes, I know the argument would be to keep these locked up, but accidents happen, and students cannot always be trusted.
I would never allow my children to go to a school that allowed teachers to have guns in the classroom. My children attend public schools that have full-time police officers on campus. These are trained professionals. This makes me feel comfort, not the idea that a well-meaning teacher might react incorrectly and cause irreversible consequences.
Bluemountains

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by Onecoldday

I saw that. It's mainly the NRA pushing for it, but what they were saying was armed and trained guards at schools I believe. I may be wrong though. but none the less the world is a scary place, and I feel bad for the kids no one should feel fear at school.

The interviewee I saw suggested that teachers have guns.

[bluemountains]

Thank you my friends in other countries for pointing out that lack of guns makes a society safer. I don't think I have ever spouted my political views here; however, I think that the US needs tighter gun laws in place. The number of deaths caused by shootings in my area are reported so often, that we are almost numb to it. I know the Constitution gives the freedom to bare arms, but there is a big difference in a hunting rifle and an assault rifle.
Bluemountains

[venusss]

No.

and as for "guns don't kill, people kill"... is much easier and more impersonal to kill with gun then stab somebody from close up.

[Anika.]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

No.

and as for "guns don't kill, people kill"... is much easier and more impersonal to kill with gun then stab somebody from close up.

And interestingly enough every other species that hunts other species does so with out man made weapons.

[Anika.]

BlueM, I don't often voice my political stances either, and often I don't see them so much as political stances but philosophy on how to live and be here now. I have struggled with feeling like it is not my business or that I should not comment on the affairs or events of other countries other than my own, however I feel uncomfortable with that. America has a heavy influence on my country, our culture and the world. I also feel more affiliated to the whole earth and less to my nation only. A global citizen, and I care about what is happening.. we are all connected.

I am glad you posted this thread. I will continue to hope for change, and do what I can in my own life to strive for peace and share it with others, because if we get hopeless or give up or give in the change will not come.

[~Christina]

Blue, trust me I do understand how you feel...

I do feel schools should have to Buzz in system to let people in school and I think an officer should be on site.. will it stop all attacks? No.. but it sure would not hurt.

12 years ago while I lived in Tampa Florida walking to my car I was mugged thrown to the ground with a gun to my head and beaten up bad that I spent a few days in the hospital .. these "thugs" I had seen walking around the apartment complex before my attack... I filed a police report .. yes they finally were arrested just as my last bruises started to fade.

I went out a few days later and bought a gun and took all the training classes possible, I have a carry permit.. and I carried my gun from that day forward.. 6 mos or so after I was mugged and beaten... Another of gang 6-8 of them came walking towards me in broad daylight in the damn parking lot again... they got with in 6 feet of me .. I asked them to leave me along ... they told me what they planned to do to me.. I said try it .. they started coming at me and I pulled up my gun... I fired a shot right in front of there feet they jumped back.. I held that gun on them , the gun shot alerted others and help came ..

My point is ... Not all people who hold guns are bad..

Taking away guns from people like me ... is ridiculous. The thugs and criminals will still have guns.

The people that seem to do these horrific acts .. Some how it comes out after wards they all had some kind of " mental illness" I say make treatment of Mental illness treatment available to everyone whether they can pay or not.

I have a semi automatic I take when I go for walks on my land and woods.. we have packs of feral dogs and coyotes and feral hogs .. When they come at me .. I am really glad I have a clip of 20 bullets to shoot at a group of 10-15 snarling animals coming after me.

I'm sorry I have strong opinions about this situation.. I'm sure its due to my being attacked and beaten. If guns are taken away from people like me .. the thugs will still have them.

I will not say anything else about this topic as it seems I am the only one who feels like this.

Again this is only my opinion and I will shut up now!

[~Christina]

Oh and I did NOT tell anyone about being mugged looking for sympathy. I did what I had to do afterwards to keep myself safe.

That is all.

[BlueInanna]

Wow Christina having that gun probably saved your life. So sorry you went through all that.

Where I live, most people seem to have guns and they hunt and shoot for fun. I'm not into it, I'd rather carry a bow.

But in a school, guns don't belong. I cant picture most teachers being steady with a gun, and no one has much of a chance against guy with assault rifles. Maybe we need metal detectors, that breaks my heart. Whole thing is horrible.

[bluemountains]

We had a family Christmas dinner today. You should have seen my brother laugh at the idea of me 'packin'. He's a big hunter and he knows how much guns terrify me.
Christina, I understand your need for a gun. My sister-in-law has one as well because she makes deliveries in some very questionable neighborhoods.
I don't think all people who own guns are bad, I just have some beliefs about the types of guns that should not be available to the public.
BM

[Anika.]

Christina I am so sorry that happened to you.

My opinion is just I wish there were no weapons at all, not for the bad guys or for the good guys. I know that may not seem realistic, but it is what I wish. I strongly believe that weapons were a terrible mistake..terrible invention.

[hamster-bamster]

I would not be able to operate a gun safely, and I used to be a good teacher (math+English). Requiring gun possession by teachers as part of the job descr would result in eliminating perfectly good teachers.

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I would not be able to operate a gun safely, and I used to be a good teacher (math+English). Requiring gun possession by teachers as part of the job descr would result in eliminating perfectly good teachers.

The whole idea is actually pretty ludicrous. I don't think it will ever garner much merit in our government-at least let's hope not! Meanwhile, I want everyone to know that those of us who are teachers do all that we can to protect our students every day.

[cocoabeans]

Arm the teachers and the next thing we hear is a teacher shot the school.

[Moodmuse]

I think they should be armed only after extensive psychological and weapons training!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[kitty004567]

I have mixed feelings on the issue. On the one hand, if the teacher wants to keep a gun in the classroom I think they should be allowed to. Only if they have their concealed carry permit and have undergone extensive evaluation and training. If the teacher is busy shooting at a school shooter who's getting the kids to safety? Additionally, the instant the teacher fires at the shooter or the shooter sees the teachers' gun they become the shooter's next target. If the shooter doesn't take the teacher out, they can't continue to shoot other people.

BUT if the teacher is shooting too that means more bullets flying around and increases the chances that a child will get caught in the crossfire.

On the other hand, I don't know that "lockdown" types of procedures are the answer either: now you have defenseless people trapped with someone with a gun intent on doing harm. In self defense training they tell you if someone is shooting at you run! quickly, not in a straight line and as far away as possible. Of course, also taught are ways to deescalate situations so that violence does not occur. I'm guessing that school shootings are not one of those violent situations that are fairly simple to avoid (like someone saying "give me your purse or I'll shoot" you give them your purse - violence avoided.

All that being said, I'm planning to get a gun for my own use for my own self defense. However, even in your own home justifying a "self defense" shooting is tricky and you're likely to spend some time in jail and have some lawyer bills. I can't even begin to imagine the legal problems associated with a teacher taking out a gunman.

[BlueInanna]

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...-hook-tragedy/

I think you guys should read this PC article if you haven't already. DocJohn has sound insight.

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by Moodmuse

I think they should be armed only after extensive psychological and weapons training!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

That would disqualify me. I imagine that my bipolar diagnosis would not allow me to be an armed teacher.
I have had to be trained in giving shots for diabetic students, how to use an epipen for allergic reactions, I get bi-yearly certification in cpr, but after over twenty years of teaching I would to stop if weapons training becomes a needed qualification.