GUN CONTROL/EDUCATION:  The Catastrophe of Guns in Schools

H.G. Wells once said, “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”  But I doubt that H.G. Wells could have conceived of the uniquely American catastrophe involving mass shootings in schools, and our response to them. 

What other nation in the world would even contemplate the arming of teachers to protect children from their own citizens?  Yet this is the twisted logic of the NRA and a President who talks about “hardening” schools. 

Former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Thursday said that to arm teachers to prevent school shootings is “the height of lunacy.”  What next, he asked?  Should we arm school bus drivers and crossing guards?  

Just think of the practicalities. The President suggests 20% of teachers qualify to bear arms.  There are 3.5 million elementary and secondary school teachers in the country.  Are we going to create a militia of 700 000, half the size of our active armed forces? An untrained militia expected to cope with someone armed with a weapon of war and a probable death wish, and with all the likelihood of more innocents being killed by “friendly fire.” As we saw in Parkland, even trained professionals, such as the sheriff’s deputy posted outside the school, can quail in the face of such a lethal killing machine. 

For Wayne LaPierre to suggest that restrictions on the acquisition and use of weapons of war that can be turned upon our children equates to a desire to “eradicate all individual freedoms” is absurd. To attack the young adults advocating for their own safety as “crisis actors” trained to stage “false flag” events is an act of the morally and intellectually destitute. No one’s Second Amendment rights are curtailed by sensible policies to protect our children.  To fail would be a failure for our entire society. 

It would be nice if Congressman Lance could provide his views for or against arming our teachers. However, at this writing he has not spoken out, and his office remains silent on the question. 

Congressman, let our teachers teach, and let us have sensible legislation to protect them and their charges. 

Help us remind voters of Lance's A- rating from the NRA.