Time to Arm the Shepherds

The recent increase in school shootings (five this year, all in the past 6 weeks) have prompted one Wisconsin representative to wake up:

A state lawmaker, worried about a recent string of deadly school shootings, suggested arming teachers, principals and other school personnel as a safety measure and a deterrent.

It might not be politically correct, but it has worked effectively in other countries, Republican Rep. Frank Lasee said Wednesday.

"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table,"he said."Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."

Lasee said he planned to introduce legislation that would allow school personnel to carry concealed weapons. He stressed that it would hinge on school staff members getting strict training on the use of the weapons, and he acknowledged he would have to work around a federal law that bans guns on school grounds.

Of course, the peace-at-any-price crowd cannot go unheard of on this issue [director of school safety for Milwaukee Public Schools, Pete Pochowski]:

"Statistically, the safest place for a child to be is in school,"Pochowski said."We have problems in our schools, but not to the point where we need to arm our teachers and principals."

Well, golly, Pete. Maybe we can get Ward to give the meanie's a good stern talking to and that will get them to change their mind. I'm sure the idea of disappointing someone will stop them from going on a murderous rampage.

Bullbutter.

Look, if there were a magic bubble* that we could erect around a school to protect our children from harm, I'd be one of the first to chip in. But until NASA figures out the whole force-field thing, why not give teachers - or at least administrators - that complete firearms training a method of defending not only themselves, but also the sheep they've been asked to tend? Don't you think that would cause the criminal minded at least a moment's pause, knowing that they can't just run in to the flock willy-nilly to do their devilish deeds?

And when I say training, I'm not talking about an hour at the range with Bubba McSmithnwesson. I'm talking tactical based teaching with live fire exercises in buildings, something darned close to SWAT and SEAL short range tactics.

It's time to wake up and realize that schools aren't the safe haven that people think it is. Time to arm the shepherds and let them protect their (our) flock.

*many anti-gun nuts and most liberals seem to think that just such a bubble is created when a law is passed prohibiting guns from a particular place. When you ban guns from an area, you only prevent law abiding citizens from carrying - criminals don't care about the law (thus the name criminals).