Look at Israel

Re: “Right to bear arms sadly misinterpreted,” Letter, Dec. 18.

Not every teacher would be psychologically capable of providing armed protection to her or his charges. It might be preferable to have schools guarded by professionals, as are some of the larger high schools in Toronto that have a full-time police presence during operational hours. However, the arming of selected school personnel has a proven track record of effectiveness in Israel.

In 1974, PLO terrorists seized control of a school in Israel and killed 26 students and teachers. The government reacted promptly with a requirement that school employees be issued arms and trained to use them. In spite of the ongoing violence in the country, there hasn’t been a successful attack on an Israeli school since. Practicality trumped public squeamishness for the sake of children’s lives.

There is obviously no guarantee that having a Glock in her desk would save a teacher’s life, but at least it would give her a chance. The brave Newtown principal who died trying to stop an armed madman with her bare hands might have saved the lives of many children if she had been provided the means to do so.

Lee Morrison, Calgary