With the rise of gun violence and school shootings, many people believe that the school environment can be safer for everyone if teachers carry guns and have a defensive weapon to use against school shooters and other school aggressors.
No, teachers should not carry guns
Schools are meant to be safe places for learning. Teachers shouldn't be promoting the possibility of violence by carrying guns.
Teachers lack the tactical knowledge needed to handle weapons
Extensive training is needed to handle dangerous weapons such as guns. Placing a gun in an untrained teacher's hands is a liability and dangerous to the students.
Guns in a school environment will only invite trouble
The presence of guns at school increases the likelihood that a student will get their hands on the gun and cause a tragic accident, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Students will view the possibility of violence as a normal part of life
The presence of guns at school will signal to students that being on constant alert for an attack at school is normal. Having guns at school normalizes violence and the possibility of violence.
Funds should go into investing for learning rather than guns
Schools are short on money as it is. They lack proper infrastructure and special education training. Instead of investing the funds into arming teachers, that money should be used to improve education for the students.
Background checks aren't perfect, and teachers aren't necessarily good candidates to carry a gun. Carrying a gun can also cause people to have an illusion of power and can change classroom dynamics.
Schools don't have enough protection against unwanted, potentially dangerous strangers. Gun-carrying teachers can protect their students better.
Arms on a school campus can halt school shootings and mitigate the damage
During lockdown situations, classes are often trapped and are essentially sitting ducks. Having a firearm allows the class to have a chance to get out of the situation if a shooter decides to target the class. School shooters are also more likely to back down if there are firearms present.
