Aug 18 2008
Bullets fly in Texas classrooms
I have known for some time that Texas Governor Rick Perry is not the sharpest pencil in the box, but I never realized he was quite this dumb…
Perry: Teachers With Guns ‘Would Have Saved Lives’
AUSTIN (AP) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry indicated Monday he supports a tiny school district’s decision to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes start later this month.
Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a policy change last year to allow employees to carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings.
“There’s a lot of incidents where that would have saved a number of lives,” Perry said.
Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses “unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution.”
District policy requires a teacher carrying a gun to school to have a Texas concealed handgun license, be authorized by the district to carry the weapon, have training in crisis management and hostile situations and use ammunition designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.
“The issue with handguns is the training and registration,” Perry said. “After that, you’re trained and registered.”
The 110-student district is 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth on the eastern end of Wilbarger County, near the Oklahoma border. It has about 50 teachers and staff members.
Asked if other school districts should take similar measures, Perry said, “It’s up to those local school districts.”
It is beyond me how putting guns in our schools and adding more bullets to those already flying through the air is going to save lives. Sure, there is a chance that some teacher may at some point in time be able to shoot and kill a school intruder, but how many kids are going to get in the way of a bullet and be killed in the process? More guns is not the answer. Say what you will, I will never be convinced otherwise.
Maybe they could put a notice on the marquee in front of the school: “Don’t be shootin’ here cuz our teachers be packin’.”
One Response to “Bullets fly in Texas classrooms”
How many times a day does the average teacher feel the urge to shoot a student?
For that matter – can they be certain that a student can’t get the gun from the teacher.