Small Texas school district lets teachers, staff pack pistols

[HK4U]

Common sense is not dead everywhere.

Small Texas school district lets teachers, staff pack pistols | Top Stories | Star-Telegram.com

Small Texas school district lets teachers, staff pack pistols
By MARK AGEErmagee@star-telegram.com


When classes start Aug. 25 in the tiny Harrold school district, there will be one distinct difference from years prior: Some of the teachers may have guns.

To deter and protect against school shootings, trustees have altered district policy to allow employees to carry concealed weapons if they have a state permit and permission from the administration. The 110-student district lies 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth on the eastern end of Wilbarger County, near the Oklahoma border.

More than a dozen state legislatures have considered making it legal to carry guns on college campuses, but experts and officials contacted by the Star-Telegram say the move is unheard of in elementary or secondary schools.

Superintendent David Thweatt said a main concern was that the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection.

'To be prepared’

The district’s lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target, Thweatt said.

Other security measures are in place, including one-way access to enter the school, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras and electric locks on doors. But after the Virginia Tech massacre and the Amish school shooting in Pennsylvania, Thweatt felt he had to take further action, he said.

"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that’s when all of these shootings started," Thweatt said. "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."

Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution."

Thweatt did not say how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall because he doesn’t want students or potential attackers to know. Wilbarger County Sheriff Larry Lee was out of the office Thursday and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization is not aware of another district doing something similar. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, including in Texas, said Harrold is the first district he knows of to take such a step.

Trump said he would have advised against allowing teachers to arm themselves, if only because of liability concerns. In the long run, it could have been cheaper and safer to hire security or off-duty police, he said. Texas school districts also have the option of forming their own police force, he noted.

"What are the rules for use of force?" Trump said. "Or how about weapons-retention training? Because they could go in to break up a fight in the cafeteria and lose their gun."

Thweatt said the district did not rush into the decision. Officials researched the policy and weighed other options for about a year before trustees voted on the policy in October.

"The naysayers think [a shooting] won’t happen here," he said. "If something were to happen here, I’d much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them."

[NDS]

Notice it's not a blanket 'teachers get guns' situation? But, that's how the MSM will portray it. I've been asking my district for this for a few years, but I know it's not going to happen. Most people who work in education somehow really believe a defenseless victim zone makes them safer.

[tattedupboy]

Notice it's not a blanket 'teachers get guns' situation? But, that's how the MSM will portray it. I've been asking my district for this for a few years, but I know it's not going to happen. Most people who work in education somehow really believe a defenseless victim zone makes them safer.

Obviously, that's not how they see it. The way they see it, if there are no guns there, no one can get shot; in theory this is true, however, it is a moot point if there are criminals around.

I wonder if the Bradys have heard about this. I went to their website and there is no mention of it, so my guess is that it is not on their radar; honestly, I hope they don't find out about the policy until after it gets enacted, that way they can't lobby at the last minute to block it.

Also, the policy in its present form still leaves some things to be desired, particularly with the provision that any teacher who wants to carry must get permission from the school district. However, since most school districts have a zero tolerance policy for guns in the hands of the good guys, at least this policy is a step in the right direction. Baby steps are better than no steps.

[NDS]

Obviously, that's not how they see it. The way they see it, if there are no guns there, no one can get shot; in theory this is true, however, it is a moot point if there are criminals around.

I wonder if the Bradys have heard about this. I went to their website and there is no mention of it, so my guess is that it is not on their radar; honestly, I hope they don't find out about the policy until after it gets enacted, that way they can't lobby at the last minute to block it.

Also, the policy in its present form still leaves some things to be desired, particularly with the provision that any teacher who wants to carry must get permission from the school district. However, since most school districts have a zero tolerance policy for guns in the hands of the good guys, at least this policy is a step in the right direction. Baby steps are better than no steps.

When using the term 'defenseless victim zone' in these conversations I have actually had with other teachers they DO state that being defenseless makes them feel safer. I've had these discussions--have you?

As far as 'baby steps'--that's exactly where we are. The existing situation will have to be worn away one small bit at a time to restore what is rightfully ours. There are several important court cases that we should watch, and depending upon their outcome more cases will have to be filed.


As for the Brady website--it's pretty pathetic; notice the fact that feedback is basically nonexistent. Have you tried to find a discussion forum like this one on their side? They don't exist. When we disagree we hash it out and talk--sometimes just agree to disagree and move on. Those few forums that do allow discussion delete all but true belevers who regurtitate the accepted point of view. Because their arguments are emotional and break down under application of fact, they dare not allow reality to intrude upon their need to control people.

[Brainchild]

As was already stated,at least it's a step in the right direction.

[tattedupboy]

When the Bradys do find out about this, of course they'll resort to their usual sky is falling rhetoric about how guns have no place in schools. Of course they won't credit this policy when Virginia Tech style massacres don't take place there.