St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch and police officers stepped up patrols at schools Monday as parents in South St. Louis and around the country debated how to best keep our children safe.
Fitch said he is opening the conversation, considering keeping guns in schools to be used by trained staff, according to KMOV.
Many believe it indeed is possible for teachers to handle guns inside school buildings, but Marc Perez, a National Rifle Association (NRA) Certified Range Safety Officer, said anyone who carries a firearm must assume a certain degree of responsibility.
"In a 'crowd' like a school for a teacher, a significant, professional and extensive additional training would be required for a teacher to carry a firearm. Once an intruder enters a school with the intent to do harm, the police are minutes away while the threat may begin within seconds. The math does not add up," said Perez.
He said there are instructors available with the proper credentials to give such training in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Perez also serves on the board of directors for the Missouri Sports Shooters Association.
Patch asked Perez if he was afraid innocent students would somehow get to such guns at school, and harm themselves or others. "Should teachers indeed have a firearm in school it must remain on their person at all times," was his response.
He said there are many ways to conceal a firearm. "Which teachers do have a firearm must be kept secret from students and fellow teachers, no exceptions."
Perez said proper education is the key to a successful emergency response program. "Students must not have the opportunity to gain possession of a firearm in school."
Regarding locking guns away in drawers and whether individual teachers who had those gun would have enough time to get to it to protect themselves and their students under intruder situations, Perez said no lock is 100 percent secure. "If indeed a situation came about which justified or required the use of deadly force, the firearm must be engaged quickly. Seconds count; there may be little time to get a key, place it in the lock, turn, open the drawer, remove the firearm and engage."
Some Texan Teachers Adopted Gun Protection Years Ago
Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged school districts to review their plans to ensure they are prepared to respond to incidents, such as the horrific shooting at a Connecticut elementary school Friday, according to an article published Friday in the Star-Telegram.
The article points to a tiny school district in northwest Texas where besides special locks and security cameras, an undisclosed number of staff members and teachers carry concealed handguns.
David Thweatt, superintendent of Harrold school district, told the reporter the "guardian plan,"—which drew international attention when it was implemented in 2008—definitely enhances student safety.
"Nothing is 100 percent. But what we do know is that we've done all we can to protect our children," Thweatt told the Star-Telegram reporter.
When Harrold representatives adopted the plan, it was the only known public school district in Texas and the U.S. that allowed staff members and teachers to carry concealed weapons. It was 20 minutes from the nearest sheriff's department station, which was a key factor. Thweatt told the reporter he knows of some other district that have since adopted similar policies, but declined to name them.
The article outlines how Harrold Board of Education members had to approve the measure. The guardian plan was researched for more than a year before the school board considered it, he said in the interview.
But Thweatt said he wanted to minimize casualties that could quickly increase while waiting for deputies. He didn't want a plan where you "lock yourself in your closet and hope that an intruder won't hurt you."
Still, the question on many people's mind: Are guns, kids and schools a good mix?
Bob McKitrick
8:36 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Absolutely not. I am not opposed to having armed police officers at school, but educators themselves should not be armed. As a teacher, I would not feel more safe if myself or my colleagues were carried around guns. And I know I'll get crucified by the gun advocates for saying this - but a classroom should be a safe place both emotionally and physically. Guns are symbols of violence to our youth, not safety. It totally changes the dynamic of a classroom. What message does that send our students if each day, when they look to the front of the classroom, they see a teacher with a gun on his/her belt? Honestly, would any of you want your child to be in that environment? I'm sure they arm teachers in Iraq and Afghanistan too, so is that where we are as a nation?
I'd advocate for adding more armed police officers at schools. They go through extensive training at the Police Academy and are well qualified to use such weapons in a public places.
I'd also say that if the logic is to arm educators - what about other public employees. Shootings can happen anywhere - so should we arm St. Louis County Librarians, Workers at the DMV, Tax Collectors at the Government Centers, etc. I think we need to be careful not to overreact to this tragedy. It does cause us to reflect on our current safety practices and make sure they are effective. However, there have been no school shootings in St. Louis in a very long time, I'd say we are doing something right.
Brit Rose
12:19 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
If we follow the security measures that MSD put in place & enforce the policies and parents has full understanding the importance of security measures then it is not necessary for teachers to pack guns to school. Don't get me wrong, I am big on gun control & the 2nd Amendment. Message to parents & students, please do not open doors to let a person in the building, even if you know that person. Let the office buzz them in.
Crystal Henson-Meyer
12:42 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Are you aware that the shooter in Newtown, CT was not "let...in the building"? He shot his way in.
When was the last time that you visited one of our local schools? As a parent of a child in the Affton School District I can tell you that getting into our building through the front door with a security system in place and having the office buzz me in would not stop me or anyone else that was there to do harm.
Brit Rose
2:28 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Yes, I am aware of the situation. But there are other options. Such as having security guards at the main entrance, locking all other entrances and exits leading to the outside and a security alarm system installed.
Francis Soyer
3:41 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Bob - Did you not read the story? it clearly stated "Which teachers do have a firearm must be kept secret from students and fellow teachers, no exceptions" Therefore, it would not "change the dynamic of a classroom". I really take offense to your statement of "Guns are symbols of violence to our youth, not safety." Maybe that is what YOU teach your students, but that isn't responsible behavior in my opinion. I have been raised around guns my entire life and that is not what was taught to me nor what I teach my children. Maybe you get that from watching CNN? I'm not necessarily an advocate of having guns in schools, but I couldn't disagree more with your statements!!!
Bob McKitrick
4:55 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Yes I did read the story. I have also been teaching for 13 years, and outside of keeping a gun safe in my classroom, I'd know of no other safe place for me to conceal a gun from my students. Perez said that armed teachers not only have to conceal a weapon from students but keep it a secret - no exceptions. Again, I don't know how this is possible with 30 students in a 250 square foot area. So the kids would know I'm packing heat.
And I don't teach my opinions to my students. You say you've grown up around guns - so you don't associate them with violence. Many of my students haven't grown up around them. They see them on TV, and in video games. Those games are violent so they associate guns with that violence. No reason to take offense at that statement, that's just the way it is.
I'm fine with conceal and carry, just not for public school teachers.
Crystal Henson-Meyer
4:52 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
You cannot lock exits of a building, that's Fire Code 101.
Once again, when was the last time that you visited a local school during school hours?
Let me preface what will follow by stating up front that I am deeply grateful for the teachers and staff within our district, I truly believe that any one of them would do everything imaginable to protect the students in their buildings up to and including safely carry a weapon to work with them and/or shield them from any bodily harm that they could.
That being said, gaining access to our schools is far to easy and for good reason. It should not be so off putting that students, parents and visitors feel as if they are unwanted or trapped behind those doors. It is what occurs after entry is gained that can mitigate the losses.
I would have no problem sending my daughter to school where teachers and staff were armed so long as they are properly and continually trained on handling and safety, they undergo annual psychological evaluations as to their mental stability as it pertains to their ability to carry and manage a firearm and they have a safe place to store it (i.e. small combo safes in every room).
Guns are protected by the 2nd amendment, they aren't going anywhere as much as we would like them to. More gun laws will not keep them out of the hands of criminals. Put them in the right hands and mitigate the damages.
Brit Rose
6:26 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I did not say chains the doors. You can lock the doors from the outside and you can leave at anytime. I visit my daughter school almost every day.
Ed Taylor
6:00 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I wish people would react as strongly to issues that affect us every day as some do to issues that will never touch us. We have a greater chance of being struck by lightning -- several times -- than we do of being in a school and having a deranged person murder children and adults. How about a much better mental health care system in this country? It was gutted in the 1970s, got some refunding, then has been on the decline for a couple decades. How about reasonable gun and clip control? Citizens don't need assault rifles and banana clips of 30 rounds. Why do only gun stores have to do background checks? And only for handguns? How about background checks for ANY firearm? And gun shows and private dealers cannot sell guns unless they can do background checks. We have to register to vote and get licenses to drive cars and I had a background check to teach students. Seems we could do the same for buying a weapon.