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Gun enthusiasts march in a rally in June to protest gun laws, while others march in front of National Rifle Association headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington in December. The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting has reignited an intense debate about gun rights as people look to prevent future mass shootings. (AP Photo/File)

Reading, writing, revolvers: Is it time to give teachers guns?

BY Jillian Raftery  on December 17, 2012 @ 1:20 pm (Updated: 7:44 am - 12/18/12 )

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, law enforcement officials and civilians alike are speculating about how the 26 deaths could have been prevented.

While some are calling for a renewed discussion about gun control and reinstating the assault weapons ban, some legislators suggest putting guns in the hands of teachers.

"It gives them more proof, to them, that we need more guns," said Lisa Foster, who is filling in for Dori with Pat Cashman.

Texas Representative Louie Gohmert is among those who have come out vocally in support of arming teachers nationwide.

"Every mass killing of more than three people in recent history has been in a place where guns were prohibited," said Congressman Gohmert on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. "They choose this place, they know no one will be armed."

In the wake of the shooting the heroic story of Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung surfaced. She tried to stop the shooter as he entered the building and switched on the school's PA system to warn students and teachers.

Congressman Gohmert has suggested that, had principal Dawn Hochsprung been armed, many children's lives could have been saved.

"I wish to God that she had had an M-4 in her office locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulls it out and she didn't have to lunge heroically with nothing in her hands, but she takes him out, takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids."

Some schools in Texas have already adopted the practice of allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons in class.

Crocket Keller is of a similar mind. The outspoken owner of Keller's Riverside Gun Store in Austin is offering discounts on concealed carry handgun classes to teachers.

On the other hand, said CBS correspondent Bob Fuss, Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced legislation to reinstate a ban on assault weapons. Fuss says there has also been a shift among some of the nation's top democratic gun rights activists.

"Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic leader, who has generally been opposed to gun control regulation, indicated that it's time to put everything on the table and talk about this," said Fuss. "And Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, who's a member of the NRA and an avid hunter and someone who's opposed to gun rules also has said now it's time to take another look and reconsider."

Most agree that there needs to be a bigger conversation about preventing violence in schools, but the major question remains: do more guns make our country safer?

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (30)


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  • Ye Olde Hagge wrote...
    They tried the "Gun Free Zone"s
    December 17, 2012 6:22 pm
    and they are apparently not working. Why not give equal time to teachers/staff carrying and see if that works?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RNRCK1 wrote...
    Swell idea...
    December 17, 2012 8:25 pm
    So tell me, how would we know if teachers packing heat really "worked"? We wait for the next school masacre-in-the-making, and see how the principal and 1st grade teacher surgically takes out the bad guy before he could get a single shot off?? Oh wait, that's right, I forgot...teachers are trained and hired to teach and inspire our children. Oh well.... I thought it was a swell idea.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    RNRCK-your post offers nothing of value-no counter point that makes any sense.
    December 18, 2012 10:10 am
    Poking a stick at a point is not worht a dime.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Protect
    December 18, 2012 12:51 pm
    Don't forget to protect
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @ye olde hagge...
    December 18, 2012 8:01 am
    Sure - let's arm the teachers. They have just as much a chance of going psycho and killing the kids as some outsider does... Let's see how long it takes before a teacher with his 'security gun' goes wacko and starts shooting up the place because his wife just left him and ruined his life... Or the janitor who's been picked on by the students breaks into the locker and starts shooting up the kids... Simplistic answers like 'arm the teachers and staff' are no better than the problem they purport to be fixing.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    FormerM-has this ever happened with a teacher. They could bring a gun to school.
    December 18, 2012 10:16 am
    Are u lefties constantly high? You offer zero contribution to a rational discussion. Go away!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    here is what I as a gun owner am willing to due in order to get bullets.
    December 18, 2012 10:24 am
    Control the sale of ammo/bullets. Guns are out there NOW and many are NOT registered if owned by a crinimal type. I would have my fingerprint taken and a full background check taken on me. Therefore I could not buy until I passed the background. A national phone number be given for citizens to call to alert authorities to check into and even meet with an individual who people think could be a danger. If deemed a danger, guns store data base is updated. The gun show loop hole has to be closed. Mental health authorities need to be able to alert a national data base that this mentaly ill person should not have a gun. Give concealed weapons permits to a couple of teachers and to persons with spotless criminal and mental health records. Throw any crinimal that uses a gun during a crime in prision for a long, long time. COMMENTS WELCOME.
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    Dori asks........
    December 18, 2012 12:07 am
    "The major question remains: do more guns make our country safer?" -Ask Canada.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Then --
    December 18, 2012 9:19 am
    Ask Norway
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  • Cat50 wrote...
    Yeah that'll work
    December 18, 2012 5:06 am
    Right up to the point the teacher snaps and kills all the little out of control darlings.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Cat50-shame on u. Has a teacher ever shot up his class? They could easily bring in a gun.
    December 18, 2012 10:13 am
    again, a lefty with zero contribution. PS-Go to Dave R blog today to read my ideas.
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  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Again
    December 18, 2012 12:53 pm
    They would have to get passed the other armed teachers. Remember it took 10 minutes for guns to show up.
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  • Urho wrote...
    What?
    December 18, 2012 4:05 pm
    When has that ever happened? Get serious. Kids have been murdered with only the defenseless hands in the air to hold the murderer back.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • snider51 wrote...
    NEVER LEARN
    December 18, 2012 5:57 am
    criminals don't obey laws thats why their criminals gun free zone tells me one thing easy pickings for the bad guys maybe they should teach gun courses in schools these days legal or not if i'm a teacher or working in a school i'm packing!!
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  • SeattleD wrote...
    If anything
    December 18, 2012 6:31 am
    the kids are going to behave a lot better knowing the teacher could take them out at any moment.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    SeattleD-zero contribution and
    December 18, 2012 10:14 am
    typical of your childish mind.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Urho wrote...
    disgusting comment
    December 18, 2012 4:08 pm
    shameful. the goal is to protect and keep everyone safe. what planet do you live on?
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  • I farted and my face blew up wrote...
    No Guns...more doors
    December 18, 2012 6:53 am
    My thoughts are that we should install an exterior door in every classroom. The door should not be able to be opened from the outside (i.e. no handle, always locked from exterior). This would allow the children to run outside when someone starts shooting in the school. In those situations it is better to be in an open area, than in a compartmentalized area that the shooter can affect more people.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    And What Happens....
    December 18, 2012 7:43 am
    ...the first time a teacher is disarmed by students? Teachers must be by the job alone in close contact with the kids. It doesn't take much to disarm somebody when in close contact. Ask any cop.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Already tried that
    December 18, 2012 1:00 pm
    They tried that and died.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    The idea of giving guns to teachers is about as knee jerk a reaction as 'ban guns' is.
    December 18, 2012 7:58 am
    The only difference is that it's 'the other side' offering the knee jerk. MOST Americans are tired of the knee jerk rhetoric of both sides of the gun issue and want real answers. We're not settling for being told 'NO' by the pro-gun crowd and we realize that blanket bans proposed by 'the other side' aren't necessarily a valid solution either. I'm a gun owner and I respect the 2nd amendment. I'm not advocating any specific solution or type of laws. I'm advocating the need for an honest, adult conversation where the rhetoric is dismissed and people talk about real solutions and allow free discussion until we find reasonable answers. However - simply having a pissing match whenever someone wants to try to stop the killing of innocent children (and adults) by telling them 'No - we can't do anything whatsoever' is an asinine response. Are new gun laws the answer? Are new laws that aren't gun laws the answer? Is just rigerously enforcing existing laws (gun laws and/or other laws) the answer? WE DON'T KNOW. And we'll never know if we aren't willing to have an honest discussion of all possible factors. We certainly will never be able to fix this if all we do is have a pissing match while yelling about how wrong the other side is. Firearm deaths are right up there with other causes of death by injury (less than 10% fewer firearm deaths than traffic deaths in 2009).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    Formermarine-you are not offering a honest discussion based on your previous post.
    December 18, 2012 10:18 am
    you are part of the pissing match with your immature post at 8:01 today. again zero contribution. Go away!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sometimesrock wrote...
    oh
    December 18, 2012 8:05 am
    I'm sorry.. are these the same teachers we claim ride the easy train and need a pay cut??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    when has anyone said teachers pay has to be cut? Are u suggesting that postal workers all need raises because nutjobs have gone postal in post offices?
    December 18, 2012 10:19 am
    zero contribution
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sometimesrock wrote...
    WHEN?!
    December 18, 2012 10:22 am
    Are you kidding me?! Did you forget all of the rhetoric about cutting teachers pay?! That they don't work a real job, that they only work 7-9 months out of the year.. etc etc etc
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    sometimes-it wasn't cutting teachers pay, it was not providing a raise.
    December 18, 2012 11:10 am
    Read more-it will set u free!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sometimesrock wrote...
    also
    December 18, 2012 10:25 am
    Nice strawman.. talk about zero contribution...
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    sometimes-post office has had numerous shootings in the post office
    December 18, 2012 11:18 am
    where is the strawman? Both teachers and post office workers have had this expereince. So have office workers, sub way riders, theatre goers. Airline crew and 911, the twin tower workers. You sir do not make good counter arguements.
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  • Urho wrote...
    Defense
    December 18, 2012 1:47 pm
    A question is to whether a teacher(s) should carry guns. Israeli teachers often do, which is why school shootings are very rare in that country despite the plethora of terrorists who would love to repeat the Ma'a lot Massacre. Concealed carry, maybe. An alternative might involve gun safes that open to the biometric (fingerprint) identities of volunteer school staff members who have passed background checks and have completed a defensive firearm course. Opening the safe would automatically call police. A locked door, ducking, lunging at the armed murderer, etc...not an effective defense. Waiting for armed help takes toooooo long. Slaughter. We just saw that once again. Gun Free zones are such a magnet for murderers, sane or not. Make all the laws you want. The people doing these atrocities could care less.
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