I read an article in the Tribune today (“Teachers: Our guns keep your kids safe”, front page) that got the opinions of two teachers that have Concealed Carry Permits (CCP) and carry guns to school.
Overall it was a good article, even changed my mind about HB389 that would have CCP teacher identify themselves to the administration and parents. But one comment by Paul Smith (the pseudonym used in the article) made me angry.
In reference to teachers with a CCP, he said “We’re more trustworthy to teach their kids than easily anybody else, because we’ve got that constant check on our moral compass.”
You arrogant SOB, why?
Because you have a background check to get the permit and all the rest of the teachers don’t? Oh, wait. We do, every teacher gets fingerprinted and pays for their own background check before they are given a teaching license.
Because your CCP needs to be renewed every 5 years, and you have to go through another background check and we don’t? Uh, nope. I have to renew my teaching license every 5 years, and go through a background check each time.
Because the process of obtaining a CCP makes you more morally upstanding than the process of obtaining a teaching license? Well, maybe. I’ve never had to go through the process of getting a CCP, but from what I’ve heard it’s not too hard – a 4 hour class and background check. As opposed to the 4 years of college and a background check it takes to get a teaching license.
Mr. Paul Smith, or whatever your real name is, your arguments for allowing CCP guns in classrooms would be a lot more palatable if you got off your (subjective) morally superior high horse.
1 comment:
I've said it before and I'll say it again now: NO ONE who teaches junior high school kids should be allowed to carry a gun in their presence. Period.
And I'm not too sure about other grades (those that piss people off less, either).
Here are the problems I see:
1) Mr. Smith has a gun with him. Some kid sees it. Some parent raises hell for Smith.
2) Mr. Smith sets the gun down/locks it up. Kid gets gun. Someone ends up hurt or dead.
3) A questionable person bursts into the classroom and makes a scene. Smith feels threatened and shoots. Kills person in front of the students. Smith spends lots of time dealing w/ people suing him.
3a) Person was not armed. Smith's temper got the best of him. Smith spends rest of his life dealing w/ legal issues.
4) A questionable person bursts into the classroom and makes a scene. Smith feels threatened and shoots. He misses questionable person and hurts/kills a kid. Smith spends rest of his life dealing with this.
Personally, I can't think of a single teacher I know where I'd feel comfortable being in the same room with them if they're firing a gun at someone.
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