Bobcats respond to arming teachers K-12

By: Shelley Kellar

s_k194@txstate.edu

SAN MARCOS, Texas – According to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has altered many Americans opinion regarding current gun laws and has introduced the possibility of arming teachers K-12 in the future.

This sudden escalation in support for gun reform hasn’t been seen since 1993, according to a report by CNN. Many students are conducting walk-outs and protests to show support for reformation, as well as voicing concern with the school's and governments ability to keep students safe.

Allison Cuellar, Photo Credit: Raul Biscaino

Allison Cuellar, an education studies major, said she is comfortable with guns and has grown up around them all her life. Even with a fair amount of gun exposure, many current students and Americans alike are unhappy with present-day gun laws.

“I feel like it is definitely one of two bigger issues here. The easy access of guns in general and the types of guns citizens are able to purchase are issues which should be addressed,” said Cuellar.

Many teachers are stepping up alongside students and pointing out that carrying a gun isn’t something all of them want to do. The #ArmMeWith movement is their direct response to the potential change in dynamics between teachers and students who would then turn into supposed protectors that must react appropriately.

Casey Sigerman, Photo Credit: Casey Sigerman

High school English teacher Casey Sigerman said reacting appropriately in those types of situations is not what teachers are taught to do in the education system and negates the idea of the way students and teachers relate to one another.

“It’s interesting because when I went into education, never did I think that this was something I would deal with in my profession. I wasn’t going into law enforcement, I wasn’t going into the military, I was going into public education. I didn’t think this would ever be something that I’d have to talk about or deal with and it’s extremely sad,” said Sigerman.

As of today, 14 states arm their educators while another 16 states give local school boards the authority to decide whether school staff can carry guns, according to data compiled by VICE News.

Morgan Glenn, Photo Credit: Shelley Kellar

Communications disorders major Morgan Glenn supports arming teachers K-12 in the future and said it could be beneficial in a way because if another school shooting were to occur then the teachers could help protect the students rather than leave them completely defenseless.

“I think they should have the basic handgun license training just like anyone else who gets their concealed handgun license is required to do … But I think there should also be more protective drills,” said Glenn.

Protection from the unthinkable is keeping some students feeling safer in their schools. Although there are two sides to every opinion, some students welcome the idea of having their teachers armed.

Katie Johnston, Photo Credit: Corey Hammonds

Public administration major Katie Johnston said she would support the idea of arming teachers as long as it was regulated and the prospective teachers underwent proper mental health evaluations, as well as appropriate training on how to use firearms.

“I definitely think it’s okay if anyone who’s handling a gun goes through the proper training and it’s regulated by the state rather than at their own discretion … I would feel safer,” said Johnston.

Of course, some students and faculty members disagree. Alexa Browning, a public administration minor, said that a gun is a very powerful weapon and if a teacher is having a bad day then a lot of things could go wrong.

Alexa Browning, Photo Credit: Rachel Lauten

“I would personally feel uncomfortable knowing that all of my teachers or all of my colleagues owned guns and carried them with them because we are just people,” said Browning.

Browning’s comment sheds light on an all too real incident that occurred in California where a gun-trained teacher accidentally discharged the weapon in the classroom with students present to show them it was not loaded when in fact it was.

Jamie Bouzard, Director of Christ Chapel at Texas State University, said arming teachers K-12 is the dumbest idea he has heard in a very long time and proposed that first, we keep things in perspective.

Jamie Bouzard, Photo Credit: Shelley Kellar

“Asking teachers to not only do their job, which is difficult enough, but to be packing heat and be ready to use it even with training in that kind of situation while they’re supposed to be watching their kids at the same time, it just seems to me to be putting too much on them to the nth degree. Let trained professionals handle that kind of work,” said Bouzard.

The debate regarding arming teachers K-12 and changing the legal purchase age for firearms is still up for debate. No matter what side of the fence Americans are on, there are many things that need to be discussed before seeing legislation make its final verdict.