Equip Teachers to Defend Themselves and their Students

[GuyRelford]

I have submitted the following editorial to the Indianapolis Star:

Equip Teachers to Defend Themselves and their Students

No one in America likes the idea of sending our kids to receive an education in an armed fortress – particularly an elementary school. But unfortunately, we have learned the hard way that we live in a world that is also occupied by evil and insanity. And for reasons incomprehensible to any sane mind, our children have become a target. With that horrific reality in mind, the question becomes – what should we do? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian, a liberal or a conservative, no rational person can debate that we need to do a better job of protecting our kids while they’re at school. So what to do?

We’re hearing a lot about the need to “pass a law,” and President Obama wants to see legislation on his desk that will regulate “assault weapons” and magazine capacity. The NRA wants to see an armed guard in every school and has implemented its National School Shield program to help make that happen. The common theme and a point of agreement is the need to “do something.”

One can reasonably question whether any law would have prevented any of the mass shootings we’ve endured in the past. Obviously, there are already laws against the possession of a gun on school property – and murder. The worst school shooting in American history at Virginia Tech did not involve an “assault weapon.” If a person is already committed to a plan that involves the slaughter of as many innocents as possible and culminates in suicide, one can reasonably question what law would stand in his way. Of course, the answer is none.

We’ve also heard that laws should be amended so as to allow guns on school property, so that teachers or staff would have the capacity to defend themselves and their students. In Indiana, however, no such amendment to our laws is necessary.

Ind. Code §35-47-9-1(2) already allows the possession of firearms on school property by anyone “employed or authorized” by a school to act as a security guard. There is absolutely nothing in Indiana law that would prevent a school system from authorizing teachers, staff or administrators to act in that capacity and to legally possess a gun on school property. Anyone in possession of a valid Indiana License to Carry Handgun would also be exempt from the Federal “Gun Free School Zones” Act, which has an exception for anyone licensed to carry a gun by the state in which a school is located.

Indiana schools have the option – today – to allow teachers or staff to possess firearms to protect their students. Should they do so? Only school administrators have the ability to answer that question. But any plan to arm teachers must necessarily include several features to make it viable, effective and safe:

The plan must be voluntary. Other than a few semesters teaching “Introduction to the Law and the Legal System” at Butler, I have never been a teacher. Nonetheless, I am sure that most teachers did not pursue a career in education because they envisioned themselves acting as an armed security guard and confronting the next Adam Lanza with a gun. But I have also spoken to several teachers since the horror at Sandy Hook Elementary School who are more than willing – even passionate – about wanting to have the ability to meet force with force in the event that evil ever visits their school. And as parents and grandparents, many of us don’t want the only thing standing between our children and a gun in the hands of a deranged monster to be a pane of glass in a locked door. Teachers who want to participate in an armed security program should have the option to do so. But no teacher who prefers not to be involved should ever be asked – much less required – to participate.

Security of firearms is paramount. No one wants firearms to be accessible to students or other unauthorized persons in a school. Teachers may be called upon to break up fights or interact with students in many other ways that could allow access to a carried firearm if not adequately secured. For years, I have taught “retention training” that involves techniques to prevent anyone from “snatching” a firearm carried in a holster – but a school is such a sensitive environment that more steps should be taken to secure firearms. The good news is that those options are readily available. For example, there are a variety of “quick-access’ gun safes on the market today. They can be opened in as little as two seconds with the entry of a coded combination – and if anyone enters the wrong combination more than twice, they lock securely and can only be opened with a key. Other gun safes read fingerprints. Such a safe mounted under a teacher’s desk or in a secure file cabinet would offer an optimum combination of accessibility and security.

Training for participants must be mandatory. My belief is that anyone who carries a gun should be thoroughly trained. That belief becomes a conviction when it comes to the possession of a gun on school property. School systems would have the prerogative to identify the training requirements necessary to receive authorization to possess a gun in a school, and that training should be extensive. It should also include a thorough education on the laws of Indiana that relate to the possession of a gun and the justifiable use of deadly force in self-defense. To facilitate that process, my company, Tactical Firearms Training, LLC, has offered free training to anyone who presents a valid Indiana License to Carry Handgun and written authorization to carry a gun on school property. We do not presume that our courses would satisfy a school system’s training requirements to possess a gun on school grounds, but they would certainly form an excellent foundation.

Allowing faculty or staff members to possess a gun on school property is obviously an important and sensitive issue and one to be considered carefully. But as I contemplate the horrific experience of the students and staff at Sandy Hook, I can’t avoid the conclusion that if I were one of those teachers, I would have strongly preferred to meet Adam Lanza with a gun in my hands, knowing I had the training and the tools to protect my students and myself. And to me, that sounds like a far superior option than simply listening to the screams and the gunshots, shielding my students with my unprotected body and praying that the door to my classroom doesn’t open.

There is no question that the teachers and administrators at Sandy Hook were incredible heroes. While recognizing that heroism, we should also realize that Indiana law allows us to equip our teachers to better protect our kids – without sacrificing their own lives in the process.

Guy A. Relford
The Law Offices of Guy A. Relford
Tactical Firearms Training, LLC

Guy

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Very nice!

 

[Redtbird]

I like, and agree, with what you said. But be prepared for some of the responses you will likely get if the Indy paper publishes your editorial.

 

[THard6]

+1 repped it!

 

[GuyRelford]

I like, and agree, with what you said. But be prepared for some of the responses you will likely get if the Indy paper publishes your editorial.

Of course.

 

[LanceRobbins24]

And this is why I have Guys phone number programmed in my cell phone. Very articulate and persuasive article. Having a wife that teaches 1st grade, the CT shooting hit home in my household. My wife has her LTCH and has gone through days of defensive shooting training here in South Bend (Norm Hood at Kodiak is highly recommended to anyone in northern IN). I hate to think of this type of shooting taking place at her school and her being a sitting duck because of the ridiculous gun free zone idea. Both her and I take firearm ownership and protecting our family very seriously. I am sickened at the thought of her or our own children being put into a horrible situation without having the essential tools at her, or a properly trained teacher at our kids schools disposal to meet force with force. I hope something like what Guy is speaking of above gets put into place. I know I would not worry for her safety and our kids safety like I do when they are in these "gun free zones".

 

[indykid]

Home run Guy! Nice letter. Now hopefully they will publish it.

 

[themadmedic]

Well written, Guy!

 

[ashlynsdaddy]

maybe should also submit to the other papers in the state.

 

[rs1]

Would like to see it in the j&c in Lafayette but i dout they would even publish it. Very nicely written

 

[John Galt]

Reading all of the "what if's" in the papers and on forums only reinforces my belief in the evil of denying good people the means to defend themselves and those around them from incomprehensible evil. The principle at Sandy Hook was an unarmed woman, and she RUSHED. THE. SHOOTER.
UNARMED!
Imagine the lives saved if in that one instant she would have had the tools and training necessary to fight what was forced upon her?
Isn't being able to want to defend ones life the ultimate assumption of personal responsibility and accountability? Maybe this is what is driving the Left nuts?
Great article Guy, keep up the great work!

 

[brooks45]

Good job Guy.....hope it gets people to start thinking about our kids
Safety for real.....

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

very well written. hope it gets some fence-sitters to think.

 

[looney2ns]

Great read Guy. Shared on my facebook page.

 

[jiggypete]

Excellent editorial. As an educator I always take inventory of these situations and try to apply them to my building. I see this as a good discussion point, but I'm very curious to see how many school boards will actively entertain this as part of a school safety plan. There is no doubt that my decision to become an educator was simply that; to educate. The world, and education in general, has changed so much that I don't think this is out of the realm of possibility. However, the world of education is a very liberal, unionized, Democrat supported system that largely lacks common sense. I would welcome the opportunity to work with Guy if my district authorized it from the school board on down through the ranks.

 

[Lep36]

Very well said!

 

[GuyRelford]

I would welcome the opportunity to work with Guy if my district authorized it from the school board on down through the ranks.

It would be my pleasure!

Guy

 

[7.62asprin]

This is why I worry with my gf being a teacher.

 

[infiremedic07]

Well stated Guy! I believe that school districts would be well served to hire personnel for security. Off duty Police and Firefighters are already thoroughly investigated and psychologically profiled. (The firefighters such as myself would need some training possibly.) And most would be willing to work for reasonable hourly wages. It is a place to start.

 

[Liberty Sanders]

Bravo, Guy's editorial is in today's paper. I immediately submitted this letter to the editor:


As a retired police lieutenant I endorse the ideas of Mr. Guy Relford concerning the arming of volunteer teachers in Indiana schools, and I suggest taking those ideas a step further.

I am trained in handgun use and would be willing to volunteer a certain number of hours per week to discreetly patrol schools in my local school system. There are thousands like me all over Indiana, in every school system in the state, and I think I can state with confidence that volunteers would be plentiful, especially among mature, sober retirees with children and grandchildren of their own. The only cost involved would be that of a background check on volunteers.

Why not let Hoosier handgun license holders protect Hoosier school children?
_____________________________________________________

I can't say whether they'll print it, nor am I holding my breath that any Indiana school systems will avail themselves of armed volunteers, but I do want to keep the discussion going.