Everyone agrees, something needs to be done. The whole prayers and thoughts are with you is great, but children need to stop dying. I’ve seen so many suggestions and ideas it truly boggles the mind, but hey- at least people are brainstorming right? But let’s be realistic here about a few of these ideas.
One- no one is going to be taking away everyone’s guns. That just isn’t going to happen. Stop suggesting it and stop freaking out about it. Only the truly radical people are even calling for that and no- it isn’t part of the liberal agenda. (Goodness gracious people, stop spreading everything you see on Facebook.). And while we are at it, you can stop comparing wanting gun control to blaming guns for killing people like a car kills people. We all get that it is the driver. Those of us for gun control know that it isn’t the gun by itself. But what do you do to someone who drives drunk? You take away their license. So yes- gun licenses and gun control does make perfect sense. We need to have a better system of controlling and keeping track of who has what guns. See- this makes sense to me.
Two- what is the argument for the average non-military American needing an automatic (or semi-automatic) weapon? Other than, “it’s so cool”. I don’t claim to understand the fascination with guns but I’m sure there are loads of people who don’t understand my fascination with horses. Hell- there are people who collect stamps. Who am I to judge? But does anyone need an automatic weapon? I also don’t truly understand automatic weapons but had someone argue on a thread that a shotgun could do the same amount of damage in one minute as an automatic weapon? Ummm? Pardon? I know enough to know, that isn’t true. If someone has a legitimate argument for why you need automatic (or semiautomatic) weapons, please fill me in. My entire family hunts or has hunted in the past. I get having a hunting weapon. What are you hunting with an AR -15?
Three- If I hear one more time that the reason school shootings happen is because we took God out of schools I am going to lose my mind. We have not taken God out of schools. I have had students pray before meals, before a test, etc... It’s allowed. Your child wants to pray, they can stay in all recess and pray- to whatever religion or God they choose. Just like the second amendment (which you and I so adamantly support) is part of the Constitution, so is separation of church and state. Our country was founded by people fleeing religious persecution. The same kind of persecution that many Christians want to see enforced today. Posting the 10 Commandments or school wide prayer has no place in public schools. (I'm pretty sure if you want to send your child where they do have those very things, they are available in all parts of the country.) Students should not be made to feel like lesser important members of our country or school because they choose to worship a different God or not worship at all. The problem isn’t that we don’t have God in our schools- the problem is that people have taken God out of their homes. Sorry- I know you don’t want to hear that, but look in the mirror. Teach your children about God and what Jesus preached. Forgiveness, compassion, mercy... put God in your daily life and your children will take God with them everywhere they go. I know my God is with me every day, everywhere I go, including the school where I work. Stop blaming the school for taking God out of your kids’ lives. As teachers, we can’t do that, only you can. You literally cannot post one second about your second amendment rights being sacred and then two seconds later post that a different section of the Constitution doesn't matter. Choose your battles wisely.
Four- Arming teachers is a bad idea. Even if you could get teachers to go for the training and the continued training to be accurate in their shooting ability, what happens when the SWAT or police forces move into the school? How do they identify the shooter versus the armed staff defending students? How many students get caught in the crossfire? Come on, picture your elementary and high school teachers growing up. How many of them would you want carrying a loaded weapon? How would that affect students feeling safe at school? What about the angry student that grabs the gun away from a teacher? Or breaks into a teachers locked drawer or cabinet and takes the gun? There are just so many variables here that make adding more loaded weapons to schools a really bad idea.
There are things that need to be done. Keep brainstorming. Stop making it political. How can we have less accessibility to the building for strangers or anyone entering after students have arrived for the day? How can we protect our doorways/hallways since so many of the doors open out for fire code? What about those of us with windows in our doors? Wooden doors? Windows to the ground floor? Share any and all suggestions. I'm listening. While you're at it - read this: A little about some of the victims I know when I did I was picturing students in my own building, students from each of my kids' classes. Students and teachers and staff that I know and love. I was imagining tomorrow starting without them and I know, I KNOW, that something needs to change.
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