Teachers With Guns—And Other Ways Educators Plan to Protect Kids

1 of 8

Teachers Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

The December 14 tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, sparked a national debate over what can be done to ensure schools are safer.

Addressing the nation about gun safety, President Obama offered 23 executive orders, including tighter background checks for those looking to purchase weapons and better mental healthcare. During his second inaugural address on January 21, Obama suggested there would be further action on gun control. He said, “Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.”

Some politicians have suggested arming teachers and hiring armed personnel to guard schools, while many oppose bringing more guns onto school campuses. Meanwhile, gun sales have gone through the roof this past month.

In the U.S., 18 states allow adults to have a loaded gun at schools. These states include California, New York, Connecticut, Texas and Alabama. In most cases, according to NBC News, “All you need is the equivalent of a note from the principal—you usually don’t even need law enforcement approval.”

Florida is not one of these 18 states, so a group of teachers in Sarasota are taking other steps to protect themselves and their students.

Pictured above, a group of local public school teachers use rubber training guns as they practice drills on disarming an attacker during a teachers-only firearms training class offered for free at the Veritas Training Academy in Sarasota.

Click through to see what steps these teachers, as well as educators in other states, are taking to protect their students from harm.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Taking Aim

A teacher at a nearby Sarasota high school takes aim at a target during the teacher’s trip to the firing range. Whether or not school staff should carry guns has been an ongoing debate in Florida, and many other states, since the Sandy Hook shooting last month.

In Colorado, for example, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 13-009, which would allow school boards to permit educators to carry guns at school. Legislators in Georgia and Michigan have also filed bills to allow teachers to carry. There is no legislation on the table yet in Florida that would lift the ban on guns in schools.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Getting the Grip

Teachers use rubber training guns as they practice properly holding a handgun. Although guns are banned inside schools in Florida, they are allowed on school property if they are stored in vehicles by adults 18 or older. Districts can override this statute, however, and place an outright ban on guns on school property.

While there’s been no movement in Florida to allow teachers to carry guns, there is a push for more security in schools. The Marco Island Sun Times reports, “The Florida School Boards Association is pushing for more school security funding. Expanded security measures, which would include more police in elementary schools and maybe even panic buttons, would cost more than $100 million.”

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Teachers Become Students

Firearms instructor Mike Magowan (R) uses a rubber training pistol to demonstrate the proper way to grip a pistol. Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, there have been 31 shootings at U.S. schools.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Getting High Marks

A teacher is congratulated for her excellent performance in target shooting. In north Texas, the unincorporated community of Harrold voted unanimously in 2007 to allow employees to carry guns. Harrold is at least 15 minutes from the nearest police department. In Utah, teachers have been able to carry guns for the last 12 years. Since the Sandy Hook shooting, more teachers in the state have sought lessons on how to handle a gun. Over the holidays, for example, 200 Utah teachers took part in a concealed carry class.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Preparing for the Worst

Firearms instructor Mike Magowan (C) uses an edgeless training knife to demonstrate how to disarm a person holding a knife to your neck. Knife training may be equally important for teachers. On the same day as the Sandy Hook shooting, Min Yongjun wounded 23 children with a knife at Chenpeng village primary school in China. After the knife incident, students in many schools across China took part in anti-violence drills and self-defense classes.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Firmly Taking Control

School teachers learn how to correctly grab a gun as they practice disarming an attacker. Throughout the country, school districts are conducting training sessions to prepare teachers and staff to respond to a shooting attempt. According to NPR, since last month’s attack, drills have been conducted in Nashville; Omaha; Utah; and Jefferson County, Alabama.

“In Jefferson County, school staff took turns playing sheriff’s deputies and teachers, donning protective vests and dodging wax bullets. Their job: Get the kids to a classroom, lock the door and turn off the lights.”

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Working to Improve

School teachers use rubber training guns as they practice drills on disarming an armed attacker from behind. In January of last year, the Department of Homelands Security admitted that:

Currently our schools and campuses are highly vulnerable to attacks that may produce unacceptable levels of casualties. These institutions lack the capability and resources necessary to prevent a hostile intruder from entering and at the same time do not have the capability to intervene before any injuries occur. A targeted shooting incident typically evolves so rapidly that by the time emergency responders arrive, it is either too late or too dangerous to intervene. It is a painful, but nonetheless true fact, that once an attacker has entered a targeted school building with the intention of shooting someone, there is practically nothing, or very little, that can be done to avert the attack.

Despite schools being ill prepared to handle armed attackers, students can purchase armored backpacks to use as shields in the event of an attack.

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

See More Actions

Americans disagree on gun control, but we're all in agreement on gun violence: it's unacceptable and needs to stop. Take this pledge and show that, left or right, we can all stand together against senseless violence.

Whether it's inner-city gang violence, or a school shooting, horrific and violent incidents are preventable through community support and mental health intervention. Indeed, studies show that youth guidance programs can significantly reduce violence in high-crime communities.

As for mass shootings, there will be no solution — involving gun control or mental health improvements — until local, state and federal governments decide to initiate a serious conversation.

25% Complete

Ongoing

1,004 pledges of 4,000 goal

I pledge to stand against gun violence with my community and others around the United States by doing the following:

In support of victims of the Newtown, CT, shooting on December 14, 2012, donate to Newtown Youth and Family Services, which will provide mental health counseling for members of the community.
Help the families of those coping with loss related to gun violence. The Brady Campaign provides support for victims and their families.
Take Action with States United to Prevent Gun Violence. They have resources to get involved in your own community and on the national level.
Emphasize the need for strong mental health services in your community. Talk to people who seem depressed or extraordinarily stressed. The National Alliance on Mental Illness features programs and services for individuals who may be at-risk.
Talk to your kids. If they ask questions about a mass shooting, answer them in the best way possible, but help them understand that recovery will happen.
Visit the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence to learn about their advocacy work and strategic engagement.

Thank you for pledging

Find out more ways to get involved at TakePart.com.

Related Stories on TakePart:

• Guns in America: Where the 2nd Amendment Is Not Up for Discussion

• What Could Go Wrong With Armed Guards in Schools?

• The Gallery of Outrage: The NRA’s Week of Bold-Faced Misfires

Related Gallery

Just Enough or Too Extreme? School Safety Around the World See Full Gallery

Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com

Teachers With Guns—And Other Ways Educators Plan to Protect Kids

Teachers Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Taking Aim

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Getting the Grip

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Teachers Become Students

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Getting High Marks

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Preparing for the Worst

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Firmly Taking Control

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

Working to Improve

Photo: Brian Blanco/Reuters

TakePart Pics

Popular Galleries

Related Stories