Hot debate (copy)
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns in their classrooms?
Well, it could happen in Pennsylvania. The state Senate Education Committee passed a measure this past week that would give school districts the option of allowing their teachers, principals and other school employees to possess firearms on school premises. It would require school employees who agree to carry a firearm at school to possess a concealed carry permit.
It now moves to the full Senate for further action. If the Senate approves the bill, it would then move to the state House of Representatives.
It’s a controversial issue, one with heated opinions on both sides. And, according to the Pennlive.com website, there were plenty of comments both for and against the measure before the Education Committee took its vote.
“Teachers have come to me and said, ‘I want the opportunity to defend my children and to defend my life and give me something more powerful than an eraser to throw at these people,”‘ said Sen. Don White, R-Indiana County, who is sponsoring the measure.
He noted that the bill would be most useful in rural school districts where a police response to a violent incident may take valuable time. He said it would give, “trained school personnel the opportunity to serve as first responders.”
“It’s a tool that we should provide to school districts to figure out at the local level,” added Sen. John DiSanto, R-Dauphin County.
The bill is drawing strong opposition from the CeaseFirePA, Moms Demand Action and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
“I don’t think most people, especially a teacher who has too many kids in their class, who has to deal with kids, who loves those kids is the person we should be putting an additional burden on,” said Shira Goodman, executive director of CeaseFirePA.
Jerry Oleksiak, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, agreed.
“PSEA is not opposed to the use of appropriately trained and armed school safety personnel in schools, like the school safety officers that some districts employ. What our association does oppose is arming teachers, education support professionals and other school staff,” he said.
“PSEA is for strategies that keep students safe. This bill doesn’t keep students safe. That’s why we oppose it.”
All the arguments, though, may be for naught as Gov. Wolf has announced he’ll veto the measure if it reaches his desk.
“School personnel shouldn’t be told that the only help they will get from Harrisburg to make schools safer is the option to carry a loaded gun around their students,” said Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott. “Harrisburg can help schools be safer by giving them adequate funding so schools can hire trained security professionals like school resource or police officers, should school professionals feel they need it, and counselors and support staff for students.”
We couldn’t agree more.
It’s a plus that the measure would be optional, leaving it up to each school district across the state if they want to permit their employees to carry guns.
But in the end, we think lawmakers should listen to the teachers who are front and center in this debate. If teachers don’t feel this measure will help protect them or their students, then lawmakers should heed that message and work together with teachers on measures that will do just that.
– For the Greene County Messenger