The shooting rampage carried out by a young man who killed 20 Connecticut schoolchildren and six adults before killing himself does not justify arming teachers with guns, which would send "the wrong message" to kids, a Riverside-area lawmaker said today.
Mark Takano, recently elected to represent California's newly established 41st congressional district, released a statement responding to comments by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, who on a Sunday television talk show argued for arming school officials to prevent the type of massacre that occurred Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
Gohmert suggested that if Hook's principal -- among the first of gunman Adam Lanza's victims -- had had immediate access to a firearm, she could have used it to "take his head off before he can kill those precious kids," instead of lunging "heroically (at the shooter) with nothing in her hands."
Takano said that, as a teacher of nearly 25 years, he was "appalled" by Gohmert's comments.
"Our schools should be safe, positive environments, and having guns under teachers' desks or in closets not only sends the wrong message to our children, but puts their lives in danger the minute they enter school grounds, as every child would become a potential victim of a gun accident," the Democratic lawmaker said.
"We should be teaching our children that gun violence is never a way to settle differences and does not solve problems," he said.
Gohmert said Sunday that wherever concealed-carry gun laws are liberalized, there's a corresponding drop in crime. Published studies on the subject differ, however.
In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed -- and then- President George W. Bush signed -- a law permitting properly trained and thoroughly vetted airline pilots to carry handguns aboard their flights for self-defense. According to the Federal Flight Deck Officers' Association, which represents armed commercial aviators, more than 10,000 members are qualified to carry guns onto their planes. To date, none have had to use them.
The 1990 federal Gun Free School Zones Act mandates that pistols and rifles must be locked in a case within 1,000 feet of a K-12 campus, with exceptions for law enforcement and concealed-weapons licensees. Violating the law is a felony.
Since it went into effect, however, shootings have occurred on at least three-dozen K-12 campuses -- often with multiple victims -- throughout the country, most recently in Newtown.
I taught with some amazing teachers, all whom I would consider very brave. Yet I know none of them ever want to be put in a situation where they have to shoot someone. Their biggest fear is injuring someone else or accidentally killing someone else. Living with that reality the rest of their life could destroy them. Just food for thought. I wonder how the school community feels about arming teachers or administrators? I still propose & whole-heatedly support a law enforcement officer in every school. Better use of our tax dollars, for sure, plus the rewards of that kind of public service are substantial. Enjoy sharing our ideas. Irishman
You sound disgruntled. I'm guessing you are or were not pleased with your education or some of your teachers. I'm just curious, what do you recommend. I'm guessing you have some good viable ideas to share.
I understand exactly where you are coming from, find a way to escape. But there are "what ifs" with any tragic situation. The teachers were in shock too knowing this lockdown was not drill. Plus the safety procedures they follow are strict guidelines set by the school district & influenced by law enforcement agencies. Sending little children out windows...25 of them...imagine a shooter waiting outside for these innocent kids. Sadly, we do not have any foolproof methods to keep our children completely safe in school. They should NEVER be in harms way!!! But what we have in place is the safest for now until we build shelters underneath each classroom.
Interesting that you can recall both Columbine shooters names from your memory. Can you also recall any of the little victims? There was recently another thread where most people thought it was a disgrace to even 'print' these killers names because it gives them some kind of lasting immortality & that we should just forget their names instead. I tend to agree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyoLuTjguJA
Myth: Jeff Kleiner grew up in the tough streets of Chicago Fact: Affluent Glenview is tough Jeff? Myth: Jeff Kleiner worked at Disney and retired Fact : Jeff never worked for Disney and is on false disability Myth: Jeff owns two rifles Fact Well now Jeff says he never owned a weapon Myth Jeff is for minority rights Fact Jeff is a racist bigot that uses racist insult on here all the time Myth Jeff is financially well off Fact Financially well off people do not do strategic foreclosures in 2006 with positive equity...but Morons do Myth: Jeff is a law abiding citizen Fact Jeff is a felon with a current felony warrant SWF022329 (Riverside County) Look it up here:http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/publicaccess.shtml Myth: Jeff never served in the military Fact Jeff has claimed Vietnam service many many times although this is not true Myth Jeff owns multiple homes Fact Jeff can't even pass a rental check after being evicted last Octonber. Myth Jeff is a moral God fearing man Fact Jeff is a con artist and a thief with no morals. He fakes his belief in God Myth Jeff is into his wife Fact Jeff tries to cheat on Cindy all the time but is so ugly that it is tough going Myth: Jeff is credible as Shane Fact: Jeff "Shane " lies so much he cannot keep his"facts" straight BOTTOM LINE JEFF KLEINER IS A BOZO AND AN ASS CLOWN.WHAT A DOLT!
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i would love to hear what you have to say please contact me at : tator.tot44@yahoo.com Very much apperiated