Harrold school district to staff: Pack your pistols

[Excaliber]

How can 51.65% of the people answering that poll not understand that guns are already in schools?

That's easy. They were educated by the same folks who think that "Gun Free Zone" signs at the door will prevent violence in the future, despite overwhelming evidence that they have never done so in the past.

[LarryH]

The scales have slightly tipped to 50.5% "yes" and 49.5% "no".

One guess which way I voted.

[Venus Pax]

I'm very disappointed that Gayle Fallon would make such a statement. I would expect our union representatives to advocate for us rather than leave us defenseless.

[troglodyte]

Texas Gov. Rick Perry OK with teachers, staff carrying guns at schools

05:54 PM CDT on Monday, August 18, 2008
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
choppe@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry said that he supported the policy of the Harrold school district to allow teachers and staff members to carry guns at school as long as they are adequately trained in gun safety.

"The issue with handguns is training and registration," Mr. Perry said on Monday. If those provisions, which are part of Texas' concealed weapon licensing law, are met then he said he has no problem with the policy.

Also Online
Texas school district OKs pistols for staff
Harrold is a small district near Wichita Falls that has about 110 students in its K-12 school. School trustees changed their policy last year to allow for weapons on school property. School officials have cited the proximity of a state highway and the school's 30-minute distance from the nearest sheriff's office as reasons for concern.

Thus far, Harrold is apparently the only school district in Texas that will allow its teachers to carry guns into their classrooms.

The governor said he would have no problem with such a policy being adopted at other schools throughout the state.

"I think it's up to those local school districts," he said.

"I'm pretty much a fan that if you've been trained and you are registered then you should be able to carry a weapon. Matter of fact there's a lot of instances that would have saved a lot of lives," Mr. Perry said.

He mentioned the 1991 rampage in Killeen when George Hennard drove his pickup into the front of a Luby's and began shooting at patrons, killing 23 people before turning the gun on himself.

Among the victims were the parents of former state Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, who was one of the state's staunchest right-to-carry advocates.

"That's a great anecdotal story of not being able to have a weapon when you needed one," Mr. Perry said.

[Owens]

To the day when we see "Back-To-School" ammo sales!
I can't help but think that this will catch on and grow.

[longtooth]

It really has been incubating for a while. It is now starting to hatch.

[anygunanywhere]

Ms. Fallon's quote in interview: " A loop hole that's gonna get plugged."

Methinks she's gonna have a real battle on her hands with that one.

Gov. Perry will veto it if it even makes it to his desk.

Anygunanywhere

[Sangiovese]

I'm starting to like "Governor Good Hair" more and more....

[mr.72]

I'm very disappointed that Gayle Fallon would make such a statement. I would expect our union representatives to advocate for us rather than leave us defenseless.

Why would you expect that? History sure doesn't bear it out.

[Wildscar]

Would you guys post your opinion at the bottom of the page:

http://www.khmx.com/pages/mixmornings.html

Just took a fast look and didn't see any place to post, but there was an opinion poll going. At this time it's:

Would you want your kids' teachers to bring their guns to work?
Heck yes! It's a crazy world out there.
48.35 %

Heck no! Schools aren't the place for guns. Period!
51.65 %

How can 51.65% of the people answering that poll not understand that guns are already in schools?

Polls is now closed 51.45% for. I thought they might only allow voting for a limited time but if you look down the page to an older poll about "Do You Think Olympian Michael Phelps Is Sexy?" has been going longer than this one. I guess they didnt like the direction it was going.

[Nicolai]

Got this 18 Aug 08 from TSRA-PAC:

By now most TSRA members have heard of Harrold I.S.D., a rural school district in
northwest Texas and the district's decision to allow certain designated members of the
school's faculty with a Texas concealed carry license to have their handgun inside the
school's buildings. This is viewed as a safety precaution. Read below as reported by
the Fort Worth Star Telegram, 8/15/2008.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/834022.html

The district's decision is not in conflict with either Federal Gun Free School Zone Law
(18 U.S.C.922) or with Texas Penal Code 46.03.

Also, this policy is not due to any recent change to state law, federal law or a supreme
court ruling. It is certainly not a "loophole".
This "local control" was created by the Texas Legislature many years ago as a safety
feature to be used by school districts at their discretion.

Teachers have always been tasked with the safety of students. Teachers practice fire
drills and know what to do during tornado warnings. Why should protection be allocated
to a third party, outside existing faculty and staff, if the district believes qualified people
are on hand?

You may remember in 1997, Joel Myrick, principal of Pearl Jr. High School in Mississippi
stopped a psychotic teenager with a gun, saving the lives of innocent students and the
teenage gunman.

Harrold I.S.D. may not be the "first and only" school district in Texas
to make such a decision, simply the first district to go public.

TSRA would like to know.

If you have information regarding a school district in your area with a similar policy, please contact: agtripp@aol.com.

[seamusTX]

Since the district must have a written policy to allow weapons in its buildings, and all such documents are open to public view, I doubt any school district has a secret policy.

There is always some nut on the school board or in the administration who would raise Cain.

- Jim

[KBCraig]

I'm very disappointed that Gayle Fallon would make such a statement. I would expect our union representatives to advocate for us rather than leave us defenseless.

Once you get above the Local level, union reps seldom advocate for the memberships. Get more than two levels removed from the Local, and they're usually working for their political handlers.

And I say this as a long-time union officer.

[Greybeard]

I noticed in one of the articles that the decision in the Harold district was actually made back in October of 2007, so I suspect there has been quite a bit of "trigger time" for some since then ... And "Panhandle People" are not exactly "city folks". That's hunting country: some of 'em probably started shooting about the same time they learned to ride a bicycle.

[seamusTX]

I saw Mr. Thweatt on TV. He's good. He looks like a military officer. The "anti" guy that CNN ran opposite him didn't stand a chance.

The discussion got me thinking: Lots of antis have been complaining about the Heller decision, saying that states and cities should have the "right" to ban weapons. Too bad they don't see the flip side: localities have the power to allow their citizens to do what they see best for their own welfare.

- Jim