Answer to shootings is voice your outrage

ARMING TEACHERS and posting more police and security guards in schools is a counterproductive solution to our mass-shooting crisis. The negative consequences of such actions will be far reaching for current and future generations.

A teacher who is already overburdened with responsibilities should not be expected to carry a gun and defend the lives of the children and adults in the schools. Not only, then, would we have teachers who are potentially untrained carrying firearms openly throughout the school, but we would also increase the chance for a child or a shooter to gain access to the weapon as well as increase the incidence of accidental firings.

Increasing security and the presence of firearms will traumatize students and keep them highly distracted and distressed. Students may have been previously affected by the use of firearms and find it impossible to concentrate on their schoolwork. They are already traumatized by the need for active shooter drills and the reality they live in. Bringing guns into the school will only exacerbate that fear and keep them in a heightened state of anxiety and agitation.

Americans have come together before for the protection of the whole. We have instated regulations on cars, smoking, alcohol, toys, restaurants, construction, travel and pharmaceuticals.

Nothing will change until enough of us exercise our duties as citizens and voice our concerns. It’s time to take our outrage to our representatives. They need to know we will not allow this to continue and are willing to fill out a little more paperwork, take a little more time, and have a few less options when we shop for our firearms. It is our responsibility to protect our kids, not the teachers.

EFFIE CLAYTON

Rio Rancho