Various Means to Tackle School Shootings
Various means have been proposed as ways to tackle school shootings. However, none of them guarantees complete solution to the problem of school shootings. In fact the statistics are on the rise with a minimum of one shooting per week according to a report by CNN (CNN World, 2018). Students and staff members end up dead in most of these cases while some sustain serious injuries in addition to the psychological trauma that results from the attacks (Sky News). Arming teachers seems to be the only feasible solution that offers a permanent answer to the issue as it would at least stop the attack from happening.
Case Study
Imagine walking into a class room every day as is your usual responsibility oblivious of the fact that this might be your final day on earth. The students are welcoming as always and you equally enjoy every minute spent with them. However, on this fateful day a guest arrives at the school, this time not bearing the goodies we expect from guests. He or could be even a she, is an armed attacker who intends to leave a trail of blood behind. The guest starts firing indiscriminately killing a score of people before venturing onto other floors. As the teacher, you take some of the students and lock them in a room. Panic steps up as the shoot continues. More students come running towards the room and you let them in. All this happens in time just before the attacker gets closer to your current location. However, just as the last of the students streams in, the guest shoots you as you attempt to lock the door. You use the last of your breath to tell him that the room is empty. A second case may show you the reality further. Assume the role of an assistant football coach in the usual business of training his students. When the attacker approaches you dive in time to save three of your trainees when you see bullets launched towards them. This becomes the end of your life.
The Reality of School Shootings
The above cases are based on true incidences. The first case is the story of 35-year-old Scott Beigel, a Geography teacher at Marjory Stoneman High School in Florida. Scott died as a result of the noble act of saving students during the attack. He opened the door to his classroom to give protection to students who were running away from the attacker. The students took shelter behind his desk. He was shot as he walked to lock the door. A total of 20 students were thronged together in the room (SunSentinel, 2018). In the second case Aaron Feis was the 37-year-old assistant football coach who selflessly shielded his students from the bullets leading to his death (SunSentinel, 2018). This attack on 14th February, 2018 killed seventeen students and staff. Seventeen others were injured by the attacker identified as Nicholas Cruz. The cases are only but a few of the school shooting incidents that have occurred in the past and some so recent.
Proposed Solutions to School Shootings
Over the years, various ways have been proposed. Among them include the move to name the shooters or killers. A scientist, Dr. Tower is of the view that once a shooter is named, the shootings are less likely to occur. She recommends that the media should not ignore mass shootings especially in schools. Secondly, double exits in classrooms have been proposed as a means of controlling school shootings. From the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting incidence in February 2018, double doors have seemed valid option. In this occurrence, the students considered using the other door other than the entrance to go out in case the shooter came in through one door. This has been supported as it would lessen the damage from the shootings however it does not completely stop the attack. Thirdly, sale of guns to mentally disturbed people in most states such as California. Similar to the other proposals, this too does not offer a final solution to the issue at hand. Fourthly, improving security in schools at least to the level of airports, has been as a possible solution. The proposal includes installation of metal detectors and teasers. This too is also not expected to yield much. Revocation of The Second Amendment in the US Constitution have been called for especially since the Florida Shootings. Nevertheless this too would only remove the right to be in possession of arms without banning the guns. In conclusion the proposal to arm teachers clinches top position as far as controlling school shootings is concerned (BBC news, 2018).
The Idea of Arming Teachers
The idea of arming teachers and other staff members with guns and training them in firearms was not revisited until the shooting in Marjory Stoneman High School in Florida. President Trump and other Republican legislators together with the National Rifle Association supported this idea. The idea is dubbed "good guy with a gun" and argues that when there are more armed staffs in schools they would stop attacks before they happen or prevent them from getting worse. For instance, an attack at Great Mills High School in Maryland was successfully stopped by an armed school resource officer who quickly responded to the threat (CNN World , 2018). Although the attacker died and two other students sustained injuries, this is a great illustration of the pros of the idea.
Reasons for Arming Teachers
Several reasons for the proposal are listed below as follows:
Quick response from the staff. On average, a school shoot out is estimated to last 3 minutes. It would take 5 to 8 minutes for police to arrive at the scene. Therefore arming teachers would ensure a quick response from the staff. The attacker will be stopped thus reducing the damage.
Districts and teachers would have more control over their security. In many cases when shoot outs transpire, districts and teachers fall victim as human shields protecting students and therefore end up losing their lives as revealed in the Florida incident.
Arming teachers would offer a safe learning environment. In case of an attack, the students should rest assured that the teacher will offer protection since they are armed. The parents would also be more confident as their children spend most of their time with the teachers.
Arming teachers would reduce trauma among students and staff. Students end up traumatized after occurrence of school shootings. Post traumatic disorder (PTSD) may result which affects learning. The shooting in Santana High School, San Diego County left severe and lasting PTSD scars on the affected students and their families. Most had to undergo therapy with recovery taking years for some. Their studies were also affected (The San Diego Union Tribune, 2011). Treatment of PTSD-affected students as well as reconstruction is quite expensive. When teachers are armed the shootings would be less likely to occur as hence no chance for such traumatizing occurrences.
Less injuries would result from the shootings. A criminal would be hesitant to mess with an armed victim thus lower injury rates.
Arming teachers with guns is the most viable solution to school shootings as has been shown in the discussion above. It would reduce damage from such incidences, guarantee a safe learning environment and ensure a quick response to the attacks. Therefore this idea should be adopted as its effectiveness has been revealed by the Maryland shooting incident.
References
BBC news. (2018, February 20). Six radical ways to tackle US school shootings. (Amos, Compiler) Washington DC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43118865
CNN World . (2018, March 20). Maryland school officer stops armed student who shot 2 others. (E. Levenson, Compiler) Retrieved from https://edition-m.cnn.com/2018/03/20/us/great-mills-high-school-shooting/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
CNN World. (2018, May 25). There has been, on average, 1 school shooting every week this year. (C. W. Saeed Ahmed, Compiler) Retrieved from https://edition-m.cnn.com/2018/03/02/us/school-shootings-2018-list-trnd/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Sky News. (n.d.). US school shootings: A deadly history. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/us-school-shootings-a-deadly-history-11251204
SunSentinel. (2018, February 22). Aaron Feis, beloved football coach who died saving students, mourned by Stoneman Douglas community. (W. Dusenbury, Compiler) Coral Springs. Retrieved from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-aaron-feis-funeral-20180222-story.html
SunSentinel. (2018, February 16). Scott Beigel, Florida school shooting victim: A hero teacher who saved students was among 17 deaths in Parkland. Retrieved from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-reg-florida-school-shooting-scott-beigel-obit-20180215-story.html
The San Diego Union Tribune. (2011, March 4). Scars of the Santana High School shooting-10 years later. Santee. Retrieved from http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-the-santana-shooting-10-years-later-2011mar04-htmlstory.html
