Active Shooters

Arming or not Arming Teachers
Student’s Name
University

Arming and not Arming Teachers
Teachers should be armed and trained to confront active shooters. There is an increase in the school attacks, which should permit teachers to possess the concealed handguns in the classrooms and school. Arming teachers is supported because of the need for immediate armed reaction and deterrence. With regards to the immediate armed reaction, active shooters can find people already present to react promptly when they start shooting, and teachers are always on-site (Destein, 2015). Teachers should also be trained to confront the active shooters to equip them with effective response mechanisms to the shooters when the police officers have not arrived at the scene.
The pros of arming teacher include quick response to the active shooters before the law enforcement officers arrive and scaring away or deterring the shooters because most of them have no fighting intentions but rather look for victims (Destein, 2015). On the other hand, the first demerit of arming teachers is that armed teachers could worsen the shooting situation for first responders because it is hard to differentiate between gunshots from armed teachers and active shooters shooting back, and whether the teacher shooting back would be skilled enough to shoot first responders, students, or bystanders (Destein, 2015). Another demerit is that student may be tempted to get the gun away from the teacher, deeming the precaution to confront the active shooters fruitless.

Furthermore, guns carried by the teachers could be taken away and used on wrong persons or turned against them. When teachers have guns, the guns could end up in unintended people or ownership. Besides, regardless of the training, teachers always concentrate on teaching and would not possess the sufficient skills to be accurate shooters during such emergencies (Destein, 2015).
Finally, since the teachers are focused on teaching, there are high chances or odds for accidental discharges which may lead to the death of students or fellow teachers. It can be said that teachers are always concerned about activating the emergency calls or alarms and to barricade the students in a safe room and wait for the law enforcement officers to arrive rather than having to confront the active shooters.

References
Destein J. T. (2015). Active shooter, to arm or not to arm teachers. ASIS School Safety & Security Council, 1-2.