Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after a hectic week of revising. I’ve got two manuscripts that I’m trying to polish. The first one is polished and ready to query, and the second one is rough and needs polishing. It’s a never ending task that’s for sure.
Anyway, I was going to write a post about a couple of books I’d recommend but then I saw the above graphic and decided to write about this latest response to the tragic mass shooting in Florida instead.
It would be a horrible mistake to give our teachers guns. First of all, there are very few teachers that I know of who’ve had combat training. This is a big deal when you’re tasked with shooting at another human being. Aside from that glaring problem, are we going to give our teachers assault weapons?
Photo credit: t i g on Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Because let’s be honest, we can’t expect a teacher to go after a kid carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a teeny tiny hand gun.
Photo on Visualhunt.com
As a parent, I’m horrified by this idea. We’re just adding more guns to an already volatile situation. What does that mean, more deaths and one of those deaths could be your kid.
I’m sorry but that’s the ugly truth.
The only answer to this situation is to keep assault weapons out of the hands of civilians. No civilian needs an assault weapon. They are guns designed for combat. They are not meant to be used for hunting or target shooting.
Let’s take a look at Japan. They’ve only had thirteen mass shootings since 1922.
Photo credit: Leo Reynolds on Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA
According to the Mass Shooting Tracker we (US) had TWENTY ONE mass shootings in 2017 alone. Unbelievable. (On a side note it’s incredibly sad that we even have a Mass Shooting Tracker.)
What is Japan doing that we’re not. Stricter Gun Laws and that’s it.
Here’s a list of some of the laws:
- You have to attend an all-day class
- Take a written exam and pass a shooting-range test with a mark of at least 95%.
- There are also mental health and drugs tests.
- Your criminal record is checked and police look for links to extremist groups. Then they check your relatives too – and even your work colleagues.
For a more complete list click here: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38365729
Arming our teachers is not the answer. They’ve got enough on their plates from dealing with behavioral issues in the classroom to coping with all the testing they have to do. If we want a public school system, we have to protect our teachers and our children while they’re in school.
We also need to bring our communities closer together. Isolation is a huge indicator for a mass shooter. If our communities were able to eradicate isolation, mass shootings will decline and maybe even disappear altogether.
Photo on VisualHunt.com
I know this is a hot topic and there’s always more than one solution. I’d love to read your thoughts. Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
I love this post and I love that you are using your voice to speak up about this issue. I could not agree with your thoughts more on this and I hope that government will eventually support what is needed to stop this brutality going forward!
Thanks for stopping by, Steph and giving my thoughts your support. I feel there are many people who feel the way we do. I’m hoping this idea does not come to fruition. If it does, I may have to start homeschooling.
I agree with you totally Lisa…Assault rifles should not be available to joe public and violence breeds violence..stricter gun laws are needed …
I’m so glad we’re on the same page, Carol! Hopefully, this idea won’t come to fruition. Crossing my fingers!!
I hope so too Lisa x
My sister is a teacher. We’ve had this discussion before. Not only would she never want to carry a gun, in her life in or outside the classroom, but she would be most afraid it would be turned on her by a student. It’s such an abysmal idea. I can’t believe anyone would even entertain it.
I know, Christine, but here we are. I’m crossing my fingers that this idea won’t come to fruition. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. 🙂
I saw a good analogy the other day. If a kid hits others with a stick what would you do? You wouldn’t give everyone a stick you’d take away the stick. Bringing more guns into schools is not the answer. In the U.K. we’ve done better than Japan we’ve had one school shooting one and we made drastic changes to gun laws following that awful day in Dumblane. I only wish America would wake up how many more lives need to be needlessly lost at the hands of people with guns?
Rachel, I love your analogy! I may have to use it! Wow. I didn’t know the UK has only had one school shooting. Kudos to you and your country for taking decisive action! I may have to pick your brain about it later! 🙂
One too many in my opinion x
Behind you 100%
Arming teachers is beyond reprehensible – can’t even really believe it was floated as an idea. My heart goes out to all of the parents, teachers and pupils affected by this. xxx
PREACH. A friend of mine JUST shared that graphic to my FB page. It’s a ludicrous idea to arm teachers for a myriad of reasons. One of the most glaring reasons, and the one that makes me the most mad, is we can’t even pay our teachers a living wage. We can’t even provide necessary materials, like pencils and papers, but the idiots making decisions for us all think that they will be able to fund this? The second they throw more money at guns and ammo for teachers than the piss poor funding we get currently just to do our job, I’m leaving this country.
Another huge issue is safety in general. If someone were to spend some time in schools to see the crap teachers put up with, they’d realize this is a HUGE mistake! There are kids, all across the nation, assaulting their teachers. I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if a student somehow got a hold of the AR-15 their teacher was packing (how does one pack this gun AND comfortably teach??). I just can’t even.
I also agree that civilians don’t need assault weapons. This country is such a damn mess.
You are so right, Katie! I was just talking with a couple of teachers the other day about this issue and one of the points they made was how do you expect students to learn when they’re afraid for their survival? Survival is going to be their number one priority. If they have to choose between surviving and learning photosynthesis, what do you think they’re going to choose? What would any human being choose? Survival. It’s sad our schools might become military zones.
I agree. I also read somewhere that this is what countries that are war-torn and full of political unrest do. This is what countries where citizens who aren’t really free do. We are back peddling and our country is falling apart. Yet, so many people are still blind to their opinion that this is still the greatest country in the world. I beg to differ.
I think it is still a great country, but we are crumbling at a rapid rate. I’m hoping we can stop it before it’s too late.
Me too.
You are so right Lisa, arming the teachers is not the way to go… we need to control the people allowed weapons. Full Stop.
Thanks for stopping by, Ritu! I appreciate your support!
I’d hate to have to conceal a weapon as I teach…
I know, Ritu. It doesn’t make any sense.
Not at all…
Yes!
As a former teacher, I am horrified at the thought of expecting teachers to have and use guns in their classrooms. We need to keep exploring answers and then take action.
You are so right! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your support!
I completely agree with your points here. There is no need to add more guns. Plus, who’s to say that kids won’t figure out how to get a hold of these guns too. Or, what if a teacher snaps and goes crazy? You just never know. There is no reason for any civilian to be in possession of automatic rifles And yes, there has to be some serious screening for those who want to have guns. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for stopping by, Erin and supporting me! I appreciate it!
A stupid idea. Are we trying to turn schools in to battlefield?
Yes! I know, right? What a crazy idea!
Absolutely
The gun mentality in America is insane. American needs to look to other countries, successful countries that do not have the gun problems of America. I loved this post, it is thoughtful and well written.
I don’t think the answer to violence is more guns. It is very unfortunate and a ridiculous idea. We don’t need more guns on school grounds. I am very irritated by this you have no idea. What if the students take the gun from her? How do you think a lot of these students come across guns? By finding them. I agree with all your points. The answer to the gun violence is not more guns. The answer may be complex and a long way, but a good start would be better parenting imo. It seems we need stricter gun laws too because adults seem to misplace their guns far too often and it ends up in the hands of their children etc. I know a lot of Americans are against stricter gun laws, and I understand why because it is not gun’s fault etc. But when it’s so tragic it seems the government does have to babysit it’s citizens or at least try. I think it’s a quick short term solution to at least try and lessen gun violence even if it saves one life at a time. I have seen the gun junkies argue the other side and I have yet to see a strong enough argument that outweighs the violence it causes and especially in recent months it is only getting worse. It is time the government needs to step up and do something, anything.
We are on the same page on this one. It’s way too easy for young people to get guns. We need to make our voices heard to the law makers of this country.
Yes we do! I feel indifferent about sharing my opinion however as I am Canadian and only been living in the states since last June. So my views are very liberal and I try to be light with my opinions as Canada laws are very different. Though I disagee with a lot of Canadian politics and laws, I agreed with their stricter gun laws. Though violence still happens in Canada especially in more poverished areas (poverty is another huge reason for violence and something we need to be more focused on.) it is a lot less than the states and they don’t seem to have as many school shootings etc, although I think a couple here and there have happened in the past. But in the slums of Toronto or other cities you tend to see more violence. It’s very unfortunate. I am glad we agree. I am all for finding better solutions, dealing with poverty, education, better parenting, more support for these teens or young adults who are doing such damaging things we need to find out the root of the problem and deal with it. It is a lot deeper than guns, but we need some kind of a short term safety net or solution. It is a complexed topic for sure and a very hard one to deal with. I am still in aww about all the recent school shooting just this past little bit, it tells me something is very wrong with humanity.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Yes. You’re right, this does go deeper than the gun issue, but we do need to address the gun issue so we can focus on the deeper one. The isolation that many of these kids are feeling. It’s a lack of a family connection and a social one. We need to find the kids who are falling through the cracks and be there for them. We need to teach our kids a sense of community.
No problem and thank you for replying. Yes we do need to help these kids etc, so glad we agree. 🙂
Let’s take more money away from the schools by sending teachers to gun training. In what world is that a good thing? No world. It’s absolute stupidity that politicians think the answer to gun violence is more guns. Apparently, they didn’t have enough time with their teachers while they were in school.
You are so right, Jennifer! We need our teachers to focus on teaching so our kids can focus on learning!
Trump has a choice: he can make the NRA and gun lobbyists even wealthier by making school boards across America purchase firearms or he can grow a pair and draft sensible gun laws. His choice (so far) is chilling and is sure to divide the citizens of the United States even more than they already are.
I’m with you 100%, Lisa. Stricter gun laws like Japan has in place will work. A well done and timely piece. Hugs to all those who are still stuffing at the hands of a mass shooter.
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon and showing us your support. ((Hugs))
It’s also sort of sad when you hear Japanese people imagining what they think it must be like in America. They think people in the States are in danger all the time…it seems more and more like they really are. 😦
It’s also worth noting that in addition to the lengthy (and expensive) process of owning a gun in Japan, they make it veeeery difficult to buy bullets. You need to account for each shot you fire.
Yes. I think I remember reading that somewhere. It certainly cuts down on the violence, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Josy. 🙂
As a teacher myself, I must say I think this is a horrible idea. Why can’t they put metal detectors in the schools?
Janice
That was my solution, too, Janice. I think that’s way to go. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I appreciate it!
I read a great post by Glennon Doyle Melton where she highlights the efforts her sons teacher goes to in order to find the children who might be lonely or isolated. She does a simple thing. She asked the students every week to make a top five list of kids they want to sit by. They are confidential and are just part of the kids, “round up” of the week.” Then, every Friday, this teacher looks for patterns. Who is on a lot of lists? Who’s on no lists? Who was on a lot of lists, but none this week? It’s not a perfect measure of social isolation, but it gives her early indications of who might need a little extra attention–or a little less. I know teachers already do a LOT to watch over the minds and hearts of kids in their classrooms. But this idea seamed a good one to ponder.
I’ve heard of that idea, too, Angela and it is a great one. I love it. I think you’re right and it should be common practice in each classroom. Thanks for stopping by and reminding me of that idea. 🙂
This is a very complicated issue with no easy answer. Arming teachers, as you mention, is not the answer (love your first visual – it is entirely accurate – teachers already have WAY too many responsibilities and shooting their students shouldn’t be one of them). Unfortunately, I’m on the other side of the fence from most. Sure, I think we can enact a few laws (assault rifle issue, gun show loophole, tighter background checks) but the reality is, 1) criminals don’t obey laws and 2) the laws we currently have aren’t being enforced (FBI fumbles, folks slipping through the cracks, etc…). We simply can’t compare the US to other countries – we have a 2nd ammendment, they don’t. We have a completey different history and foundation story. That means, we will NEVER get guns off the street. You can’t make gun ownership illlegal and then confiscate all weapons. The citizenry would rebel. Jails would be full of regular citizens. The bottom line is that calling for more gun laws is simply the easy out – it makes people feel like they are doing something. We HAVE to address the underlying cause – isolation (as you wrote), lack of family structure, lack of community, lack of LOVE/CARING. Our students, our children are crying out for our help and we are ignoring them! Go ahead and criminalize guns if you must. Maybe then we can finally have the difficult conversations – the ones that deal with our society – WHY our children want to kill themselves….WHY our children want to kill each other.
You did hit the nail on the head about the lack of family structure and support and the lack of community. Every child needs a sense of belonging and a sense of love and self worth. Let’s face it, parents are so wrapped up in giving their kids things, that they forget they need love, guidance, and nurturing as well. Thanks for stopping by Allison! I appreciate you sharing your point of view.
This has been a heated debate in my house this week. Teachers teach because it is a calling. They are nurturers not killers. Dumbest idea I have ever heard. Canada has similar gun rules as Japan. You can not even transport a semi-automatic weapon to a gun range with out a specific permit and the licence to own one is even stricter. I say bravo to the young people who are rising up and protesting. At least they get it.
Yes. I love that these kids are standing up and finding their voice. Maybe it will be their generation that changes things for the better. We can only hope.
Arming our teachers is definitely not the answer. Thank you for another thoughtful post.
You’re welcome!
Noooo. No guns. Im with you on this. My son at 15 had a classmate who was shot on the school grounds. I rushed home because i saw the post in facebook. Son answered the door. I was so relieved. I almost wept. STILL ANOTHER MOTHER ‘S SON WAS SHOT. No. No guns.
I’m glad to hear we’re on the same page! Thanks for stopping by and giving us your support! 🙂
I am somewhere in between the two extremes.
I think taking away guns is not a comprehensible solution, as I am almost certain that there will always be some sort of black market for people with conviction to get their weapons. But I wholeheartedly agree that we need stricter laws for the purchasing of guns – Japan, where there is mandatory classes and tests and accuracy gauges and etc, is a model we should follow in that aspect.
However, I also agree that the more people who are trained (that’s the important part!) and carry on an every-day basis makes the world safer. The point where you said that a handgun does not compare to an assault rifle is true if you think about range and speed. But a bullet is a bullet. And if there are even five handguns held by trained hands versus the one, it is more likely that a bullet will hit the school shooter.
That being said, I agree – teachers should not be forced to have guns. If they take it upon themselves, that should be acceptable, if the school district allows it and sufficient training and background checks are instated. I think a more efficient manner would be to have a designated armed guard at a school. This would take time to instate, as I do not think we should just take immediately from the police force, as that lets other areas of the community suffer.
I believe that having more guns in capable hands will deter crime on the whole, but also deter shooters from starting their spree – as they have to go against several armed citizens.
I think the biggest thing we need to fix is not related to guns whatsoever though. We need to focus on healing the hurt individuals who feel as if they must take it out on innocents. When a man goes to jump off of a bridge, we don’t blame the bridge. We don’t blame the object used to manifest action. We work on healing the man (if he survives or stops before jumping) and on raising awareness. So let’s focus on stopping shooters before they pick up the gun – build a more inclusive society, one that will help people who feel depressed and/or desperate. If we can fix the cause, we don’t have a problem later.
Sorry for the long comment. This is just my opinion, and I could not shorten it in any truthful way.
You are so right, Erik. I just saw a video that told me that 100% of school shooters did not have a father figure in their lives. That says a lot right there. We need to make sure our young people have the role models they need. That’s where a strong community comes into play.