Officials oppose arming teachers
WEST CHESTER » Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan on Tuesday joined with other officials in opposing the idea being championed by the Trump White House of arming teachers in schools to protect against mass shootings like those in Florida and Connecticut.
He also said that although law enforcement and first responder officials in the county are vigilant in seeking out threats to schools and other public places, and are prepared to act in times of such crises, they, “hope never to be called on to use that preparation.
“We all hope that we never
lose a single child to an active shooter, much less go through what happened in Sandy Hook or Parkland,” Hogan said in a statement that was issued by his office and signed by him; West Pikeland Police Chief Shane Clark, the president of the Chester County Police Chiefs Association; and Bobby Kagel, the director of the county’s Department of Emergency Services. “But if an active shooter event happens here, rest assured that Chester County is prepared. Our children are worth it.”
The statement came a day before students in several schools across the county were planning a “walk out” protest to highlight the fight against gun violence and encourage legislation aimed at promoting gun safety laws.
Students and teachers at most county public school districts and across the United States will walk out of their schools on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to honor the lives of the 17 people killed in Florida and to press lawmakers to pass stricter gun control laws, according to EMPOWER, the group organizing the action.
Among their demands, participants want Congress to ban assault weapons, require universal background checks before gun sales, and pass a gun violence restraining order law that would allow courts to disarm people who display warning signs of violent behavior.
Many Chester County schools are allowing students to walk out of class for the 17 minutes and are providing additional security to ensure the actions are organized and safe.
John Sanville, superintendent of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District said plans for the walkout vary by level. “At the elementary schools, schedules will go on as usual. At the middle school and high school – student leaders have organized programs – our staff is ready to provide a safe and orderly environment for these student-led events. Students who wish to participate in the 17-minute walkout may
– those who do not may remain in class.”
In response to the mass shooting at the Marjorie Stoneham Douglas High School in Florida last month in which 17 students were killed by a lone gunman armed with an assault-style rifle, President Trump has embraced the suggestion, supported by the National Rifle Association and many conservative legislators, that having guns in the hands of trained teachers and other school officials would help neutralize shootings — either by preventing people from entering schools in the first place or by disarming them once inside.
White House aides said Monday the president was focusing on achievable options to combat mass shootings, after facing significant opposition from lawmakers on a more comprehensive approach. Those include a pledge to help states pay for firearms training for teachers.
During meetings he has held on the subject, including some with victims of the gun violence in Florida, Trump advocated arming certain teachers and school staffers, arguing that gunfree schools are “like an invitation for these very sick people” to commit murder.
“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could end the attack very quickly,” he has said.
But in his statement, Hogan said that option was not the answer to such violence and could worsen situations.
“Do not arm teachers,” the statement read, calling it a “common sense solution.” “Our law enforcement and military go through extensive and ongoing training to address active shooters; most teachers lack that training. In addition, teachers may lose a gun or have their guns stolen, creating more danger. “
Hogan also said that having armed teachers in the school could create confusion and lead to innocent people being killed.
“If a police officer charges into a school in response to an active shooter and finds an adult wielding a gun, that person is going to be treated as a threat and neutralized, which may mean being shot,” he stated. “The police officer will not find out until later that the person with the gun was a teacher.”
Instead of arming teachers, the statement read, schools need better engineered security (such as a single secured entry point) and, if economically possible, an armed and trained school resource police officer in the building.
The statement also suggested that county residents can take proactive steps to help law enforcement and fist responders counter the possibility of a mass shooter. It recommended that school students practice the “run, hide, fight” protocol for an active shooter at least twice every year, even though some have argued that such drills make students nervous.
“Kids in the 1950s practiced getting under their desks for a potential atomic bomb,” the statement read. ”Students practice fire drills all the time. Practice minimizes fear and leads to better responses.
“Lock up your firearms,” the statement suggested. “Let us know if a friend or family member is a potential threat. Pay attention to your surroundings.”
The statement came as a way of responding to what Hogan, Clark, and Kagel said were questions about whether county law enforcement is prepared for an “active shooter” incident like that in Parkland.
The statement described basic steps that those involved take to deal with an active shooter or active threat scenario. These tactics include monitoring and prevention, initial response, and dealing with a mass casualty event.
“Chester County law enforcement spends a significant amount of time monitoring and preventing potential threats,” the trio stated. “We may receive information that an individual is unstable or threatening violence through tips from family or friends, social media, or direct police contact. We check to see if the individual has a history of violence, psychological issues, and/or access to weapons. We then seek to intervene before any violent action happens.
If an active shooter incident happens, all 46 law enforcement agencies, local, county, and state have received the same training, they said. “The first officer to arrive at the scene immediately enters the building, finds the shooter, and neutralizes the threat. The officers do not wait for back-up and do not hesitate. Every second that goes by represents another life potentially lost.