Ghost wrote:I think living with his decision would be tough.
I wish the teacher who died shielding students had a gun.
Yes, living with that decision to stand by doing nothing would be tough. I think it's despicable. Any resistance at all could have very well stopped the threat and at a minimum at least gotten the shooter to stop focusing temporarily on kids and teachers and instead focusing on returning fire towards the cop. The officer could have engaged from a position where he had cover. Yes, he was outgunned, but dammit return fire and give the kids a chance.
The subject of arming teachers is interesting to me. I don't think that any should be required to be armed. But let's at least give them the opportunity to do so voluntarily. And if they choose to do so voluntarily, then let's make sure we support them with proper training and a place to secure their firearm in their classroom if they choose not to have it on their person at all times. My daughter is graduating high school this year and her intent is to study to be a teacher, so I have a serious vested interest in this beyond just the fact that I already have kids in schools. I hate to think of her being a sitting duck with no means of defending herself and would love for her to at least have the option to carry a weapon to defend herself.
Another interesting point of discussion is whether teachers, if we choose to allow them to carry weapons to school, are required, legally or morally, to defend students or others beyond themselves. Theoretically, if you carry a weapon, your primary motive is the defense of yourself and to stop direct immediate threats to yourself. Who's to say that an armed teacher may very well just hole up in their own classroom with their weapon and just defend themselves until the shooter engaged them there? Teachers don't have a legal duty to risk life and limb to go out into the hallways or throughout the school to actively engage shooters. We can't hold them to the same standard as a police officer. But would hope that some, if not all of the armed teachers would offer some resistance and stop the threat. Either way, I don't want my daughter to be standing there empty handed while some **** shoots at her and her future students.