Sounding off

Readers sound off on Facebook to : Should school staffs be allowed to have firearms?

Never was a teacher. Worked in a high school for over 7 years. Have had my CCW for over 10 years. Guns don’t belong in the classroom or in a school unless a commissioned police officer is carrying one. A classroom environment is difficult enough to manage without introducing a deadly weapon.

— Bill Pate

Not teachers... no way... hire security guards or something... too many stories of bad teachers.. they can flip out just the same and shoot up a school too.. teachers don’t need to carry guns into the classroom.

— Shannon Buchanan

Yes they should..! And a truant officer and a drug enforcement officer everyday! On grounds and tracking down the parents of the school skippers! Then the crap will hit the fan! — Albert Stanley

We guard our politicians with guns. We guard our financial institutions with guns. Why not our children in schools? I do agree with Bill however I dont think the teachers should be the ones armed but there should be law enforcement that are armed protecting our kids! These are not the greatest times we live in.

— Jimmy James

should be mandatory just like CPR training. our teachers are the first responders to everything that happens in the class room. they should have the tools and training to be prepared for what ever happens. the students will never have access to the firearm if it is where its supposed to be. on the teacher.

— Dave Geary

Yes, only those teachers who feel comfortable carrying a gun during school hours should be allowed to do so. Most schools can’t afford to pay security guards or police, so arming the teachers makes sense..

— Lindsay Lauricia

I think as long as the staff members are competent and have their weapon holstered and not laying around for kids to get yes it’s a great idea especially with all the school shootings that have started a trend in society today ....

— Savvy Childers

Based on almost 30 years of law enforcement experience, absolutely. Teachers that have been screened, properly trained, and designated to carry should absolutely be armed during school hours. Not everyone is emotionally equipped for the responsibility but many of our teachers are former military, some with combat experience. Why wouldn’t we want these people equipped to protect our children and grandchildren.

— Alan Leiby

Yes, saving the life of one child is worth it! Proper training & on going training should also accompany this policy. A look at history of shootings, they usually pick gun free zones. The Colorado movie theater shooter passed 2 movie theaters to one with a gun free policy.

— Danille Spooner Houghton

Unless schools are going to have at least one armed law enforcement officer present at all times, then yes some teachers/administrators should be armed. — Craig Kohler

NO. The teachers get really stressed and if the kids know they have guns and you get one kid, who is stressed and gets the gun.. well, you can see where I m going with this. Guns are for the police. — Deb Brady

Yes with proper training I would prefer someone trained being able to either deter or disarm a shooter. People can only hide to a certain extent. Bullets find their way through. I’m sure if a weapon was kept in a locked area that only certain trained individuals had access to in order to protect children. Outlawing guns is not the answer. Look how well that’s worked on drugs! Reality check. This is our world.

— Nicole Kinney