Introduction Gun rights are often associated with being akin to apple pie in America. Certainly, it seems like it when there are potentially 300 million civilian guns in the United States, or about one for every five persons (Birnhaum, 2013), and when gun proponents vehemently remind others of their Second Amendment rights. However, when school shootings occur and precious lives are lost, the masses start to seek answers and demand action. One particularly alarming proposal calls for the arming of teachers and administrations and resurrecting and bolstering an expired federal ban on assault weapons.
Position and Rationale Teachers should not bear the large responsibility and liability for carrying guns on their person at school. Shaw …show more content…
Gun-rights advocates argue that easing gun restrictions could enhance both individual and collective security in schools and may deter violence. However, the vast majority of teachers, law enforcement personnel, and students maintain that allowing concealed weapons will increase risks for students and faculty, will not deter future attacks, and will lead to confusion during emergency situations (Birnbaum, 2013). The controlling language that serves as the foundation for discussing guns in schools is in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution (1791), which reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (Birnbaum, 2013). There are numerous interpretations of the twenty-seven words, which continues to cause a stir. The 7th Circuit court on December 11, 2012 ruling cited language related to schools in the landmark 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which held that the Second Amendment provides an individual right to bear arms. The majority opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia said that states could still restrict guns in "sensitive places" such as schools (Shaw, 2013). Schools are exactly that: sensitive places. It is unreasonable to expect that teachers should be armed and ready for a fight at all times. Their position is to teach and inspire young minds, rather than to be militant in nature. They are nurtures, not fighters. There are other methods to protect staff and students alike that do not involve placing weapons in the hands of teachers. The responsibility and liability is too great. Let’s leave the arming to those with proper training and expertise and allow teachers to focus on the teaching and learning occurring inside of the
Position and Rationale Teachers should not bear the large responsibility and liability for carrying guns on their person at school. Shaw …show more content…
Gun-rights advocates argue that easing gun restrictions could enhance both individual and collective security in schools and may deter violence. However, the vast majority of teachers, law enforcement personnel, and students maintain that allowing concealed weapons will increase risks for students and faculty, will not deter future attacks, and will lead to confusion during emergency situations (Birnbaum, 2013). The controlling language that serves as the foundation for discussing guns in schools is in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution (1791), which reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (Birnbaum, 2013). There are numerous interpretations of the twenty-seven words, which continues to cause a stir. The 7th Circuit court on December 11, 2012 ruling cited language related to schools in the landmark 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which held that the Second Amendment provides an individual right to bear arms. The majority opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia said that states could still restrict guns in "sensitive places" such as schools (Shaw, 2013). Schools are exactly that: sensitive places. It is unreasonable to expect that teachers should be armed and ready for a fight at all times. Their position is to teach and inspire young minds, rather than to be militant in nature. They are nurtures, not fighters. There are other methods to protect staff and students alike that do not involve placing weapons in the hands of teachers. The responsibility and liability is too great. Let’s leave the arming to those with proper training and expertise and allow teachers to focus on the teaching and learning occurring inside of the