Editorial: Arming teachers increases likelihood of school violence

Guns and schools don't mix, no matter who wears the holster. State Sen. Bob Beers (R-Las Vegas) announced last week that he will introduce a bill to the state Legislature next year that would allow teachers and other personnel to complete a firearms training course and carry guns in classrooms.

The proposal seems logical in principle. Students who consider bringing a firearm to school may think twice if they know they could be outnumbered in a gunfight.

But what the Beers' proposal assumes is that the teachers' guns will only be used by the good guys for purposes of and protection and deterrence. Guns are inanimate objects that are only as useful as the people carrying them. Passage of the law would introduce more guns into our schools, a scenario that doesn't guarantee increased security. A student could try to wrest a handgun from a distracted teacher. A deranged educator could use a gun to threaten or even shoot a disruptive student or fellow employee. If a shoot-out was to erupt between a school shooter and a teacher, there's no guarantee the teacher's bullets will hit their intended targets.

We're all for the right to bear arms, but the issue at hand is not protection of civil liberties or making a statement to violent teens. It's increasing safety in schools.

The proposal also fails to address the root of the issue: Some students are willing to take out their aggression by shooting their peers. Fear of being shot may be a deterrent for some students. Others who know that school violence may likely be their last act on Earth, like the Columbine shooters, will have little more to fear.

A better piece of legislation would allocate funding to implement non-lethal security measures such as metal detectors, peer accountability groups, counseling for at-risk students and school security personnel.

With increased burdens placed on teachers through No Child Left Behind, increased training time and other mandates, the role of playing the hero when a crisis arrives should not be expected or endorsed.