Also, I do not know of a single teacher who hasn’t made some sort of plan for what they would do in case the worst should happen. We practice our Active Shooter Drills with the entire police force every year, but we all also have a personal plans, depending on our classroom situations. It had been a topic of discussion before this about going to a “more active” Active Shooter in Building plan. One where teachers and students do what they can to fight back when face-to-face with an attacker. Easier with high school students than 6 year-olds, no doubt.

I know that public school teachers get a bad rap, but I don’t know of a single one whom I would be surprised to hear got between a bullet and their students. Not a one. Of course you never know how you will react in such a situation. But I am not at all surprised that the staff at Sandy Hook did try to stop an attacker even with only their bodies. It is exactly what I would expect. If that miderable child killing weasel had 20 minutes before armed responders arrived to do the worst, the staff there must have been pretty effective in secreting the children and the lockdown worked as well as it could have or it would have been a bigger massacre than it was. 20 minutes is a long time for him to be running loose with the only weapon and nothing between him and children but the bodies of their teachers.

I am beyond outraged that there are fools out there who think that teachers cannot be trusted to have a weapon to defend the innocents in their care.

I teach Latin in a high school where we always have at least one, usually two police officers there on duty. We also have some big, intimidating, intelligent administrators who are great if anything goes wrong. I would feel very comfortable if the latter had guns and were trained to use them.

Tzetzes on December 19, 2012 at 11:47 PM

What if your principal was a small-ish lady like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary? She confronted the shooter, but surprisingly her words were less effective than his bullets.

If she’d been armed, then maybe he would’ve taken cover long enough to listen to reason.

I think people have the right to defend themselves.

lexhamfox on December 19, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Then you don’t advocate gun control – that’s nice to know.

Perhaps I’m succumbing to the same sort of nihilism that drives all the “Let It Burn” posts on this site, but a part of me would almost welcome the absurd scenario that appears to be the ultimate wet dream for you gun people out there: a mad shooter starts up at a crowded shopping mall, prompting one or more concealed-carriers to whip it out and start exchanging rounds. Gee, what could go wrong there?

Do we really have to experience a melee like this before you people abandon this idiotic “solution” of putting more guns in schools?

Drew Lowell on December 19, 2012 at 6:29 PM

.
We have more faith in each other’s ability to react and behave properly with our concealed weapon (like an off-duty Police Officer), than you do.

Hell, I wouldn’t doubt that we (us gun nuts) have more faith in you, to react and behave properly with a concealed weapon (like an off-duty Police Officer), than you have in yourself.

Then again, maybe I should rethink that last part . . . . .

As McDonnell pointed out, there is always a knee-jerk reaction against the idea that more guns lead to less crime

Not in the right-wing blogosphere it isn’t. Here the knee-jerk reaction is that guns should be more prevalent.

But today’s young ladies are going to boot camp, and staying in the service, and coming out able to defend their moms and sisters, and it seems like, some of the wimpy men too. I can see our lady veterans asked to be the plain clothes woman at our local school, and feeling like if she were armed, she would be competent.

I work in a field where occasionally we have had to think about contact with the public, so we thought about Columbine, and my boss said, “everyone do what your conscience requires.” For many heroes it is to protect someone else, to hide them. I think if we say no to armed protection at our schools, we are saying to women who work with the young people, you will have to use your body to protect them.

Many colleges today have veterans right there in the student body. Why overlook this source of protection for college students. Any man or woman discharged properly from the military ought to be able to protect other students on campus, and I think it would be a great honor to do it.

Perhaps I’m succumbing to the same sort of nihilism that drives all the “Let It Burn” posts on this site, but a part of me would almost welcome the absurd scenario that appears to be the ultimate wet dream for you gun people out there: a mad shooter starts up at a crowded shopping mall, prompting one or more concealed-carriers to whip it out and start exchanging rounds. Gee, what could go wrong there?

Do we really have to experience a melee like this before you people abandon this idiotic “solution” of putting more guns in schools?

Drew Lowell on December 19, 2012 at 6:29 PM

Ah yes, the Argumentum Ad Wild Westum. Gotta love it.

Explain why nearly every one of these incidents occurs in a place where a gun ban exists but is not enforced? Do you really think this is accidental?

Explain why society doesn’t devolve into your pictured scenario outside of so-called ‘gun-free zones’?

People like you (who refuse to consider the facts) are the problem. Get past your emotions and your imagination and think.

Here, I have one for you: a mad shooter with a couple of semi-autos and tons of ammo starts shooting up a crowded school, shooting and moving freely and uncontested throughout the premises for a good 5-10 minutes until the police arrive. Meanwhile, the school staff is armed with, I don’t know, harsh words and possibly a double-leg takedown. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

These shooters have 2 main goals: 1- rack up a high body count, 2- go out on their own terms. It’s their way of saying, FU, I Win, You Lose.

The most likely scenario with armed personnel on premises is that the shooter simply won’t show up. They know they won’t be able to rack up the kill count, and they are absolutely terrified of failing (getting stopped), just like they’ve failed in every other aspect of their lives.

Return fire, if it doesn’t kill them, will make them take cover, run, or turn the gun on themselves.

Despite what the media reports about video games, these guys aren’t looking for a lively, competitive, real-life bout of Counter-Strike: Source. They are looking for a one-sided slaughter, and they’re getting it, thanks to terrible policy.

Yes, it’s curious that she can’t answer the question on how people are protected when their self-defense rights are taken away.

Galt2009 on December 19, 2012 at 7:12 PM

Not as curious as you advocating Israeli gun laws in the US.

Do you think Israelis are well protected even though the vast majority aren’t allowed guns and even when they are they are only allowed limited ammo?

BTW, can you tell me How taking away someone’s right of self-defense protects them?

Galt2009 on December 19, 2012 at 6:47 PM

lexhamfox on December 19, 2012 at 6:59 PM

Care to answer that?

Galt2009 on December 19, 2012 at 7:07 PM

I think people have the right to defend themselves. I think employers have the right to decide whether employees can bring their arms to work.

So we now have to go to the “Hollywood Gossip” for our news? LOL

JPeterman on December 19, 2012 at 7:44 PM

Go Google it, lazybones.

You mean like this????

Media blackout: Oregon mall shooter was stopped by an armed citizen

JPeterman on December 19, 2012 at 6:54 PM

And also this

Gun Owner Saves Lives In The Richmond VA Golden Market Shooting

F15Mech on December 19, 2012 at 7:13 PM

And, this one:

Sunday: Armed, Off-Duty Cop Prevents San Antonio Movie Theater Shooting

Resist We Much on December 19, 2012 at 7:36 PM

…and THAT is what pisses me off more than anything!

And, this one:

Sunday: Armed, Off-Duty Cop Prevents San Antonio Movie Theater Shooting

Resist We Much on December 19, 2012 at 7:36 PM

So we now have to go to the “Hollywood Gossip” for our news? LOL

Perhaps I’m succumbing to the same sort of nihilism that drives all the “Let It Burn” posts on this site, but a part of me would almost welcome the absurd scenario that appears to be the ultimate wet dream for you gun people out there: a mad shooter starts up at a crowded shopping mall, prompting one or more concealed-carriers to whip it out and start exchanging rounds. Gee, what could go wrong there?

Drew Lowell

You might be stopped in the mall shooting you’re planning? Seriously, what is wrong with people like you?

The dirty secret again is.. if you have a mental illness you can do whatever you want in schools and get away with it! And who are the ones these bullies are picking on repeatedly.. kids who don’t have a mental illness. They target the children who can’t protect themselves because of if they do the they get suspended!

I screwed that last part up and had to fix it.

But it is worth repeating. I think many people do not realize this.

Just as the MH system in America is protecting violent people living in our communities… violent people who need long term hospitalization… and would have gotten in 40 years ago, the MH system is also protecting violent children in our school system.

Perhaps I’m succumbing to the same sort of nihilism that drives all the “Let It Burn” posts on this site, but a part of me would almost welcome the absurd scenario that appears to be the ultimate wet dream for you gun people out there: a mad shooter starts up at a crowded shopping mall, prompting one or more concealed-carriers to whip it out and start exchanging rounds. Gee, what could go wrong there?

Do we really have to experience a melee like this before you people abandon this idiotic “solution” of putting more guns in schools?

Drew Lowell on December 19, 2012 at 6:29 PM

Ignorant dipshit, your mocking scenario has already happened, 12days ago in Portland. Confronted by a CCW holder, the would-be mass shooter ceased his attack, fled, then killed himself.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2012/12/16/virtually-unreported-ccw-holder-likely-prevented-larger-clackamas-mall-d

You mean like this????

Media blackout: Oregon mall shooter was stopped by an armed citizen

JPeterman on December 19, 2012 at 6:54 PM

And also this

Gun Owner Saves Lives In The Richmond VA Golden Market Shooting

F15Mech on December 19, 2012 at 7:13 PM

And, this one:

Sunday: Armed, Off-Duty Cop Prevents San Antonio Movie Theater Shooting