Principal Advocates Teachers Should Be Armed

[Havegunjoe]

This morning on KSTP-5 news a story was run about a Principle from Norman County East High School advocating teachers should be allowed to pack heat. Here is what was said in brief, their web site has the video

One Minnesota educator says teachers should carry guns in the classroom. Norman County East High School Principal Greg Lund made that statement in reaction to the shootings at Red Lake High School.

Lund says if a teacher or a security guard would have been armed at Red Lake, fewer people would have died. "When the threat is walking the hallways shooting people, there's no way to get away from it unless you've got armed resistence," said Lund.

Judy Shaubach of Education Minnesota says Lund's proposal is ridiculous.

Lund says he plans to lobby school boards across the state.

I say Bravo Principle Lund. He echo's an article I wrote for the Minnesota Sentinel about a week ago. What Ms Shaubach and others do not understand is this proposal is not meant to be a solution to why kids go on these rampages. It is meant to act as a deterent and reduce the potential bloodshed by giving school personel a means of immediate defense of themselves and the students.

 

[ZeroX]

Good that he thinks so but I don't see him having much success. :banghead:

 

[OF]

A first step is still a step. That took guts to come out and say that.

- Gabe

 

[SteveS]

Before someone jumps in and says there is no way the "liberal teachers" will ever go for this, remember that the teaching profession includes a broad cross-section of people. Some are decidedly pro-gun, others are anti. If you substitute teacher with most any other profession, I believe you would get the same reaction.

I think the best approach would be to eliminate schools (and every other place) from the no carry list. That way, teachers would be free to carry if they wanted and no one would know. Concealed means concealed.

 

[Bear Gulch]

While I concur with SteveS about individual teachers, I still think that the NEA would scream like a mashed cat!

 

[Standing Wolf]

A first step is still a step. That took guts to come out and say that.

Guts and plain old-fashioned common sense.

 

[bbrown609]

I am a former teacher and now an administrator at a large high school. I have my concealed weapons permit and have been shooting guns my whole life. I have no problems with educators carrying while on the job, especially if they have permits. At our school, we have one resource officer who can't be everywhere all the time. She also has to be off campus a good bit with her job responsibities. On our faculty, we have several individuals who are avid hunters and sportsmen and have much experience with firearms. We also have many former military personnel and current national guardsmen on our staff. Some of these have seen active duty in Vietnam, the Gulf War and a custodian who is just getting back from Iraq. One of our staff members was a champion skeet shooter in the army. While we have others on staff who don't have a clue about firearms, I think we have many that would be qualified. I would carry if able, but I don't want to carry on the job as much as I would like to be able to have one in my vehicle for when I leave the job late at night, come home late from away sporting events, or when I have to be in the building alone. I think some of you are right though as I don't know if this would ever pass in any state, but the guy has a lot of guts to bring it up. Most people in education would be risking their jobs by making a statement like that.

 

[Jenrick]

My girlfriend and I were discussing the shooting in MI and I mentioned that idea to her. Glad to see I'm not the only one out there who feels that way. I really don't see what the heck is wrong with giving teachers the option to carry in schools? We give them responsability of watching our kids 5 days a week for 9 months, so why not let them have the ability to protect them as well?

On a side note about different types of teachers: My sociology teacher in high school was pretty much the architypical "liberal/hippy" teacher type when you first talked to him. However once you got onto serious politics, he was more center then left. The deal maker for me was the fact that he had made his own replica civil war pistol in his garage over the summer. He had a collection of vintage WWI and WWII firearms to rival most muesuems as well. His reason for living 45 minutes away from the school: "So I can use my backporch rail as my benchrest." There is hope out there.

-Jenrick

 

[phorvick]

I teach at Norman County East,, Greg is a great common sense administrator. He is also a dedicated friend of the 2nd amendment and firearms instructor. In another thread I posted a copy of a letter I sent to the union President in response to her "ridiculous" comment.

 

[Havegunjoe]

Everyone should email Principal Lund.

He has received one email, from me, as of yesterday thanking him for his stance. I think he would appreciate hearing from all of us.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Most of the No guns in schools state laws I've seen...

Have some sort of an "out" that allows them for official purposes, or with written approval.

It _might_ be that if Mr. Lund reviews the applicable laws, he might find that he does in fact have the power to defend the children entrusted to his care.

 

[wrench]

I agree with the posters who remind us not to stereotype teachers as all 'antis'. I am a teacher, and shoot frequently with other staff and faculty from my school.
I think those who hold permits to carry should be allowed to carry everywhere.

 

[kfranz]

I still think that the NEA would scream like a mashed cat

I envision a scream of such high pitch that it couldn't be heard by human ears, but otherwise agree with your analysis. I always make sure I get my PAC dues back from the union, and always spend it on firearms related stuff....

 

[TheDutchman]

Armed teachers :banghead:

 

[DigMe]

Armed teachers :banghead:

What a well thought-out response. If you think it's a bad idea then why not give us your reasons so we can point out the error of your thinking. I've yet to hear any really good reasons why teachers who can lawfully carry concealed should lose that ability as soon as they walk into a school. Mostly I've just heard kneejerk responses such as your own.

brad cook

 

[bbrown609]

I find it interesting that this website seems to be for the intended purpose of extending and promoting 2nd amendment rights, but there are individuals on here that think all educators should not be allowed to legally carry. These are the same people who would scream if their rights were restricted. Are these individuals just bitter about their bad experiences in the education system?

 

[Roadkill]

I've been a JROTC Instructor in a large high school (1900 students) for seven years, also have been looking down the barrel of something or another for nearly forty years. Retired combat arms (12B), two trips to Vietnam, ect, ect.
I shoot nearly every weekend. The major problem I see with "teachers" being armed is the parents who would never allow a gun at a school because they know it might be used to shoot their little idiot. They would see it as being used not to protect but to inflict harm. There are several employees at school who I know would be very effective with a gun. Both of my coworkers are retired combat arms, one Infantry, the other Military Police, both Ranger qualified. There are several hunters also. But the other 125 teachers are female annd mostly very liberal. The mottos of "No Child Left Behind" and "Two to the chest, one to the head, kick them in the balls, make sure they are dead" do not go well together. There is also the enormous personal responsibility and liability to go with it. I can't imagine a worse scenario than hundreds of screaming terrified kids in a crowded hallway trying to escape a killer(s) and me trying to get a shot off. Sadly, it will take a terrorist atttack on a school like in Russia before this even becomes a consideration.

rk