Why arming teachers is highly unlikely

[DonViejo]

By BENJAMIN WERMUND 02/21/2018 07:16 PM EST

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the White House is “very strongly” considering the possibility of arming teachers and other school staff following the deadly Florida school shooting — but the reality is that won't happen any time soon, even in states that would allow guns in schools.

Lawmakers in at least half-a-dozen states — including Florida — are considering legislation this year that would ease restrictions on firearms on campus. But such attempts nearly always hit strong opposition from teachers and community members. Even in states that have passed laws allowing school districts to make the decision, few school boards have bit.

“The vast majority of schools superintendents and boards don't even blink before saying, ‘Thanks but no thanks,’” said Kenneth Trump, a school safety consultant not related to the president. “We know that by and large there’s mass opposition to this in the education community.” President Trump acknowledged it’s a controversial idea, but said: “We’re going to be looking at it very strongly.”

“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said during a meeting at the White House with students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where a gunman murdered 17 people last week. “I really believe if these cowards knew that the school was well guarded. … I think they wouldn’t go into the school to start off with, it could very well solve your problem.”

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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/trump-armed-teachers-guns-359007?lo=ap_b1

[tanyev]

1. I think a school's insurance company would have some very strong opinions about all the teachers

being armed. It would probably be cheaper to just install metal detectors at every entrance.

[exboyfil]

2. That doesn't work unless you plan to man them with armed guards

anyway. The metal detectors are a choke point that could be exploited by a gunman as well. You can see videos online of individuals emptying a 100 round magazine in under 2 minutes. For less than a $1000 you can wipe out dozens with little prior training or preparation.