Arming teachers and the response of San Marcos residents, students and teachers

By: Sierra Tyler
Mc1313.sierrat@gmail.com

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Stoneman Douglas High School shooting has resulted in two main arguments regarding gun control in the United States. One supports developing stricter gun control laws, while the other supports arming teachers in the classrooms. According to a NBC News /SurveyMonkey poll, 56 percent of the Americans surveyed are against arming teachers. San Marcos residents, students and teachers have varying opinions as well.

Dr. Donald S. Inbody
Photo by: Sara Atterbury

Dr. Donald S. Inbody, lecturer in the department of political science, is a 28-year Navy veteran who owns guns and is familiar with target shot shooting. Inbody said it’s a bad idea to arm teachers because they don’t have the training to safely and accurately respond in stressful situations.

Inbody said there are two things he’d recommend to help end school violence. First, he said to harden schools. Second, he said we should pay attention to the individuals that are more inclined to commit school violence.

“I do think we have fundamentally an anger problem with young, white males. I think that’s the real problem and when you have that combined with a weapon that they can get their hands on easily, it can carry on a great deal of carnage in a short period of time,” said Inbody.

Clayton Taylor
Photo by: O'Byrant Muralles

There are some people who said that if we arm teachers, they should be properly trained.

Clayton Taylor, carpenter and single dad, said that if teachers are armed, they should receive training in a scenario that mimics a combat situation.

“They should be getting trained like in an actual combat scenario … I believe they should be out there with people shooting off blanks so they can get that feel of an actual combat,” said Taylor.

Fernando Costu
Photo by: Fernando Costu 

Fernando Costu, history major, is pro-Second Amendment, but doesn’t believe teachers should carry.

“I don’t believe in campus carry because the certificate to carry doesn’t go in depth for weapon safety. I don’t feel comfortable with people who are not trained that are carrying a gun on campus,” said Costu.

Garret Hanson
Photo by: Rachel Lauten

Others support arming teachers because it is their Second Amendment right.

Garret Hanson, finance major, said everyone who goes through the proper legal process should have a gun if they want one.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with teachers being armed, I think it has to do with just them practicing their rights and the Second Amendment like everyone else that already has the CHL does. So the only difference is that right now teachers aren’t allowed to carry a gun on campus and some places they are,” said Hanson.

While there is some support for arming teachers, some residents think it is unnecessary.

Jaime Bouzard
Photo by: Rachel Lauten

Jamie Bouzard, chaplain at Christ Chapel at Texas State University, is against arming teachers in the classroom. Bouzard said there other alternatives to arming teachers, such as sensible gun control laws and adequate mental health funding.

“Thousands and thousands of schools go by every year without any problem whatsoever, so to institute teachers carrying weapons as a regular policy, it just seems to me like making everybody wear gas masks on the off chance that there’s going to be a gas attack somewhere in the country,” said Bouzard.

Students have also sounded off on the issue.

Nyssa Norman
Photo by: Hallie Colbert

Nyssa Norman, high school student, is against arming teachers and said she is worried about the potential safety hazard a gun poses in the classroom.

“What if someone gets their hands on it? You know how kids act these days. They’re not under control sometimes. What happens if the teacher snaps? They have that gun on their hip, on their desk, in the safe. Then what? We’re back at the same place,” said Norman.