TownHall article on CCW in churches and schools

[EL1227]

Does Concealed Carry Belong in Churches and Schools?
Does concealed carry belong in churches and schools? A trainer, a schoolteacher and security experts help provide answers to one of America’s hottest debates in the June issue of Townhall Magazine. Mark Kakkuri reports.

Teaser -
Does Concealed Carry Belong in Churches and Schools? ~ Townhall Magazine

Suzanne,” a K-12 teacher in Detroit, Mich., entered the classroom. Students filed in and took their seats. In minutes the lecture would start, followed by a written exam and then a practical exam. Today, however, was a Saturday, and Suzanne was not the teacher, but the student. And this wasn’t her classroom, but that of Rick Ector, a certified instructor for those wishing to obtain a concealed pistol license in Michigan.

As Ector introduced himself and the topic of concealed carry, the discussion naturally turned to recent school shootings. Suzanne raised her hand, and Ector motioned for her to speak. She told the class she was a teacher and shared her concerns over security at her job.

“The school where I teach has almost identical safety measures that were in place at the Sandy Hook Elementary School,” she said. “Paltry measures, such as simply locking the front door, are inadequate because if a bad guy just bursts the door free or if an authorized visitor, such as parent, opens the door— the bad guy still has access.”

While Michigan does not allow concealed carry on school grounds— GOP Gov. Rick Snyder recently vetoed legislation that would have made this permissible—Suzanne said that if she were authorized, she would be willing to carry a handgun on the job.

She’s likely not alone.

The actual article, which is quite interesting and informative, runs 2,400 words (6 printed pages) and is available in the subscription of the magazine only. If you’re interested in a reprint copy, please contact Mark Makkuri or subscribe to TownHall.

Just a another quick excerpt from my reading ...

As for interest from pastors about firearms training and the subject of carrying guns in church, Ector in 2012 twice taught concealed carry classes in church. He says that the church's pastor is a retired police officer who believes his flock should be armed.

 

[press1280]

The bottom line is if someone is willing to kill someone else(and themself in the process), a charge against someone for illegally carrying in a GFSZ is worthless. Yet people still think that somehow this law will deter a deranged individual. It would only theoretically cut down on any accidents by legal carriers-which in and of itself is very rare and even more rare that it would kill someone.

 

[K.C.Dean]

It is not hard to imagine that if the principal of Sandy Hook had access to a firearm a bunch of children and a few teachers would be alive. It is not the gun but the law that didn't allow someone at that school to be armed. If you can't understand that there is something wrong with your thought process.

 

[yellowfin]

Church is actually one of the main places I make a priority to be armed, because historically religious affiliation has been the one of the top reasons people have been targeted for violence. Aside from the obvious one religion hates another, there's always psychos that got hosed in a divorce deal so they blame marriage ergo the church, formerly abused people and others with beef with clergy, rabidly anti religious people with other mental instability, etc. ad infinitum.

 

[EL1227]

Continued ...

John Lott on FoxNews.com -
Gun toting teachers' names must remain private

Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel's second attempt to derail the school district’s proposal. The would be similar to what happened last year with the New York State Journal News when it published the names of people with gun permits ... OBTW, the editor was recently FIRED.

 

[pbharvey]

I feel more vulnerable to a mass shooting in church (no pun intended) than anywhere else.

 

[miles71]

Md has a special police law/regulation already on the books that would make this not only possible but IMO fairly easy to implement.

http://www.sos.state.md.us/Services/Police.aspx

I pray nothing happens to make us all ask why it didn't happen in md.

TD