From The Houston Chronicle:
A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes begin later this month, a newspaper reported.
Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements.
In order for teachers and staff to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorized to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations and have to use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.
Superintendent David Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district’s lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target.
“When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that’s when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can’t defend themselves? That’s like saying ’sic ‘em’ to a dog,” Thweatt said in Friday’s online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
You protect yourself, and the kids, BEFORE something happens, not call 911 afterward and wait for the cops to drive the 30 miles. Congratulations to Superintendent David Thweatt for acknowledging that the 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office leaves “students and teachers without protection”. It’s about time some people get their head on straight and realize that you simply cannot depend on law enforcement to protect you.
While people about to commit crime do not seem to bother checking the laws, now licensed and permitted teachers at least can carry their self defense weapon. Currently schools are off limits for everybody and if one decides to do rampage in a school with a simple kitchen knife there will be nobody to stop him before he can do a lot of damage.
Once criminals understand that the populace is armed and ready for them, and only then, we will begin to see a drop in violent crime. Criminals are just not scared of jaw enforcement or the judicial system.
Texas, gun, Harrold Independent School District, firearm, David Thweatt, gun-free zone
1 response so far ↓
1 Linz // Aug 21, 2008 at 6:28 am
That’s awesome! Bravo! There was talk of allowing college students to carry on campus–something I think goes right along with this. When you are a legal, licensed adult, why should you not be able to carry anywhere? I still haven’t really figured it out. I mean, I don’t mind if they make licensing laws tougher–I’d still pass–if that meant we could carry anywhere we wanted. I think they really hit the nail on the head by requiring those teachers to get specific training and use specific ammo. There’s one for the home team!