LETTER: Guns in schools would perpetuate violence

To the Editor:

As a teacher, I am privileged to have never felt unsafe at work or during my own education. I know this is not the case everywhere. However, I am afraid of the culture we will create if every school needs to be guarded by a person with a gun, or moreover, if teachers themselves begin carrying guns. Not all students would view a gun in a teacher’s hand or desk drawer as a comfort. I want my children to grow up unafraid of guns within or outside of their schools.

I fear once we bring guns into our schools, we will never again have schools without guns. It begins with an armed guard at the door. Then armed teachers. Then armed students: Where does it end? Our security crisis only escalates.

I imagine the future looks something like this: our schools are guarded by an individual with a handgun; the bad guys get bigger guns. We arm our schools with armored doors and more guards; the bad guys resort to more drastic means. The only way to keep our children safe is to keep them locked in some windowless fortress or military base. But history testifies that a gunman can reach even there.

What happens to our children? They will grow up in a culture of violence, fear and guns. They will grow into violent, afraid adults who will not feel safe unless they are carrying their own guns. This is not the America we know.

The only way to ensure safety for our futures is to teach our children to care for one another, to include everyone and how to stand up to bullies.

The Associated School Boards, SDEA, and others oppose HB1087. Listen to the experts: these groups of educators know our schools and our students. A national political uproar is not a good reason to bring guns into our schools.

Let’s not walk down the slippery path to a culture of fear and violence. Let’s work together to make schools places of acceptance, safety and learning free from fear of harm by anyone.

Tags: obituaries, letters, guns, schools

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