A Leter to my Local School Superintendent

[O6nop]

I had some additional thoughts I figured I'd throw out there...
Rather than castigate the teacher with reservations toward lethal force, wouldn't a less-than-lethal option be viable? It would serve its purpose to either disable the intruder or make him run away.
Also use school libraries as make-shift safe rooms where none of the aisles are exposed to the entrance and the books would create a limited view and somewhat of a shield from bullet fire.
And finally, maybe there could be a tear gas system that could be enacted by the teacher or a strobe light system to disorient the assailant.

[n5wd]

I wouldn't put in anything suggesting that teachers be required to participate in a firearms program: merely that those teachers who have already taken the personal initiative to obtain a CHL should be permitted to carry concealed on school premises.

Agree 100%. There are some of my co-workers who would be so aghast at the thought of possessing a firearm, much less using it, that I would seriously not want to be on the same range with them when they did their mandatory training. Simply put - that won't work. A voluntary program though is much different.

If there are concerns about children gaining access to a teacher's firearm, school districts could install quick-access wall safes in those teachers' classrooms, similar to how many organizations install defibrillator kits near select trained personnel. This would be a low-cost and low-visibility method of improving response against violent threats.

Not quite the same thing - a defibrillator WILL NOT SHOCK someone who is playing around with it when the defibrillator cabinet is opened (as they have been in places where defibs are available in public or semi-public places) and who starts to play with it (even if they put the pads on someone) and we all know what CAN happen when a firearm is accessed by some who shouldn't have access to it. I'd even worry that a female teacher, who carries her firearm in her purse might have security problems ( my wife had her wedding band and wallet taken out of her purse when it was put away in her desk while working with some 4th graders way back when she was still in the classroom). But there would have to be some way found (biometric safes?) of keeping the firearm out of the kid's hands but within easy access for the authorized teacher, that's for sure.

[ctb5]

... I'd even worry that a female teacher, who carries her firearm in her purse might have security problems ( my wife had her wedding band and wallet taken out of her purse when it was put away in her desk while working with some 4th graders way back when she was still in the classroom). But there would have to be some way found (biometric safes?) of keeping the firearm out of the kid's hands but within easy access for the authorized teacher, that's for sure.

I agree completely. Kids will find a way to it if it's only in the teacher's desk.

A teacher's wearing a firearm on his/her person all day would probably not be an unsafe scenario at most elementary schools. But esp. at junior-high or high schools it would be necessary to guard against the scenario of a kid trying to grab it in a scuffle. I would go with a hard rule that the teacher must lock it up in a (school-provided) biometric safe.

[RoyGBiv]

Here's the (not unexpected) empty reply...
I'll have an opportunity to meet with him after the holiday, so I'm not planning to point out the errors in his message.

Been rallying the neighbors in the mean time..

Mr. RGB,
Thank you for sharing your concerns with me. I definitely understand your concerns, and we take our students' safety very seriously. The Gun Free signage that you mentioned is actually part of a federal law that allows for stiffer penalties for those who do choose to bring weapons onto our campuses. The signage is necessary to enact the law. Mr. Kxxxx, who you copied on your email, has spent much of his first year with us reviewing our district's safety procedures and working with each campus on their plans. This has included conducting appropriate drills and providing guidance to improve processes. His background in law enforcement has been invaluable.

Our safety procedures will always be evolving based on new laws and recommendations that we receive from our law enforcement partners. I believe that our students are safer in our schools than almost anywhere else in our community. We will continue to evaluate our students' needs with regards to safety.

Thanks again for your thoughts,

Also.... Just to be clear... I never said anything about making it mandatory for teachers to carry. Strictly volunteer.

[rp_photo]

ManyTexas IDS's have their own police departments with fully-sworn officers.

Perhaps they could be guarding the schools assuming they're not too busy hassling good guys over inspection stickers far away from campus.