Schools

[GlockenHammer]

I was surprised at first to find that CO allows school employees with CHL to carry in school. Then someone mentioned Columbine and it made sense. Does a Columbine-type event have to happen in TX before we get school carry? That was how we got churches. Why can't we learn from other people's lessons?

Also, as tomneal mentions in another thread, we need a definition of "school" for CHL purposes.

[cyphur]

I wish I could carry in the schools I work in, at the least. Eventually there will be a shooting, its just a matter of when. I'd rather not have to find cover and hide when that happens, cuz I don't think a knife would help much in a gun fight.

[DKSuddeth]

one would think that the luby's massacre would be all that was needed to learn that carry should be allowed anywhere, however, the gun control advocates needed to look out for those 'squeamish' ones about seeing guns in places that only criminals should be allowed to carry.

[SteyrM40]

I am a teacher in a very nice/expensive private school. My biggest class this year is 13 students. While I can't carry in the buildings, I typically leave my firearm in the trunk of my car -- perfectly legal under current Texas law.

This summer I was teaching overseas at a "student abroad" program. My roommate/co-worker teaches in a rough school in California. She typically has classes of 35-40 students. She has busted students, during class, for selling drugs. Several of her students have been beat beyond recognition. She constantly told me about how she had to earn their respect, and now her students "have her back in case something happens".

Needless to say, that is a far cry from my school, and I admire her for her patience and willingness to work in such an environment. In any case, we were having a conversation this summer, and I told her: "Last year was crazy! I had to suspend FIVE students for plagiarism." He answer to that: "We had two murders on campus last year."

Holy moly. If that isn't reason enough to allow school carry, I don't know what is. Our kids are good, and while I don't envisage a Columbine-type disaster, I know it is a real possibility. I think it is only unfortuante that should the day ever come (knock on wood), I would have to find an opportune moment to leave my class (and worse: my students!), run to my vehicle, open the trunk, open the lockbox, and return to the building to defend my students.

I am not a hero, but I think it would be my moral obligation to protect my students. Their parents trust me daily with their intellectual, emotional, and physical well-being. If a predatious individual is going to attack them, I feel morally obligated to defend them to the fullest of my abilities. Am I wrong in my thinking?

We need the restriction on school carry removed.

SteyrM40

[txinvestigator]

I. If a predatious individual is going to attack them, I feel morally obligated to defend them to my fullest abilities. Am I wrong in my thinking?



SteyrM40

No you are not wrong, and God bless you for that belief.

[Roger Howard]

The events of the last couple of weeks have proven why school carry should be allowed for CHL's. The recent shootings have proven that when you take guns away from law abiding citizens that only the "Outlaws" will have guns. If someone in these schools have had a firearm some lives may have been saved. At least we don't live in a liberal state like New Jersey where there is a lawsuit against the government for an arrest of a gentleman travelling through. He was carrying his firearm in compliance of the federal code.

[Commander]

I wonder if there is any chance that the legislature would change the prohibition in schools for CHL holders in 2007. Events keep proving that the greatest danger of a school shooting comes from the criminal element.
(Dang! What a concept!)

[longtooth]

Just changing the prohibition on carry in school & letting Sarah have a few fits on TV would get the word out. If there were no guns on a given campus it would still be a deterrent because BGs would never know. Now they know it is a free shoot.

[sebis]

+1 for removing the restrictions on schools, in my opinion if there is ONE thing to improve on the Texas CHL law is the school issue.

Look at Israel, you don't hear about any school shootings there where teachers and parents are armed.

--Sebis

[jrosto]

Look at Israel, you don't hear about any school shootings there where teachers and parents are armed.

Or in Utah, schools are not prohibited areas for CHL holders in Utah. As a matter of fact, a school principal can authorize a non CHL holder to concealed carry on school grounds. I would very much like to see similar legislation here in TX.

At the very minimum, put schools in the same category as hospitals and churches.

[txinvestigator]

Actually all we need are some school adminstrators not afraid of political correctness, and be serious about protecting our kids;


Texas Penal Code
§46.03. Places weapons prohibited.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal
knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):

(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational
institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by
a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger
transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether
the school or educational institution is public or private, unless
pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the
institution;

[Roger Howard]

TXI, I agree with you but they are afraid of loosing their jobs. Passing an amendment to current CHL law would take that choice away from administrators

[Kalrog]

unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution;

My wife is on the board of our Church kindergarden... Yeah, I am covered for 1 school.

[cyphur]

Getting permission to carry in a public school is like getting a free ride on the space shuttle.