Legal and Ethical Guide for Educators by Stacy Moore https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4 Campus Carry en-us 2022-07-18 13:46:48 UTC 2026-01-21 02:32:26 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4dc.png 1. Professional Perspective/Audience/Topic stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430510 As a new principal, I feel it is important to be aware of the various ways we as administrators can help keep a school safe. All stakeholders should be involved in any site based decision that will impact daily lives. I chose to discuss the topic of campus carry due to the fact that it is forefront in the news and is affecting and effecting our day to day routines and safety while at what should be one of the safest places in our lives, our schools. ]]> 2022-07-18 13:51:14 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430510 2. Interview stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430621 Many schools, especially rural communities, are considering becoming a Guardian School, where specific and well trained staff conceal carry on campus. This issued has become an important topic in education in recent years due to the rise of mass school shootings. 
I interviewed two school members to determine if I would get contradictory statements and beliefs. I first interviewed our school's Superintendent, Dwin Nanny, who said he believed in the Guardian program and feels strongly that our school should be one. He states his reasoning for supporting the program is because we are over 20 miles to the closest town. He said that if we were to have an active shooter, it could be a minimum of 20 minutes before help arrived. He did stress the fact that staff that would carry would go through intensive training. I also interviewed Justin Moore, our welding instructor and who is retired military. He mentioned that while he believed the Guardian Program has its perks, he is not sure if it is the best program for public schools. He spoke about what it would be like for a staff member to have to point a gun at a student (or other community member) that they know and be able to pull the trigger. He's biggest concern was if a program was put in place for staff to get counseling if a situation like this occurred. 
Best Practices presented by both parties above:
1. Never disclose your weapon.
2. Understand the law.
3. Seek proper training.
4. Practice realistic situations.]]> 2022-07-18 13:51:26 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430621 3. Professional Association stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430775 I read a blog reviewing the Texas Public School "Guardian" Program. According to Chadwick (2018), he went through the training and rated each section based on the detailed instruction and practice participants received. This blog provided me with a quick synopsis of what the requirements are to become a Guardian and what the training entailed.

Chadwick, C. (2018, September 04). Chuck Chadwick gets "Schooled" in Public School Security: A review of Texas public school "Guardian" program. NOCSSM. https://nocssm.org/blog/review-of-school-guardian-program]]> 2022-07-18 13:51:43 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245430775 4. Current News Article #1 stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431014 After reading the article by Kate McGee in the Texas Tribune (2022), I have learned that there are many mixed feelings about how to keep our schools safe. 
  • There are two different campus carry programs available in Texas: the marshal program and the Guardian program.
  • The marshal program consists of 80 hours of training and a psychological exam. This program follows federal laws as to when a firearm is allowed in a school zone. 
  • Many districts claim that teachers feel that marshal program requires too much time to complete and maintain on top of their already demanding job. 
  • In 2007 the Guardian program became to gain popularity among rural school districts.
  • The Guardian program requires less training than the marshal program and is determined by local school boards.
  • As of 2020, 280 school districts have implemented the Guardian program. Many stating the reason was the distance and time that help would arrive in a crisis situation.
  • The Texas School Safety Center does advise school districts to consider all possible outcomes and risks that comes with arming school staff.

McGee, K. (2022, June 7). Texas Republicans want to arm more school employees, but few districts are opting in. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/07/texas-school-marshal-program/
]]> 2022-07-18 13:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431014 5. Current News Article #2 stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431128 As there are mixed feelings among the public about the issue of campus carry, so is there within government officials. Many are in disagreement with the recent Supreme Court ruling. According to Walsh (2022):
  • Thursday, June 23, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to carry a weapon for self-defense outside the home. 
  • The court has coined the term "sensitive places," but did not define where these places might be. 
  • Many gun control groups believe that the courts decision will only bring more harm to our students. 
  • Alito defended the Supreme Courts decision by stating that the courts did not determine who may possess a weapon on campuses, nor the type of weapon to be possessed. 

Walsh, M. (2022, June 24). School groups worry as Supreme Court recognizes right to carry handguns in public. Education Week. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/school-groups-worry-as-supreme-court-recognizes-right-to-carry-handguns-in-public/2022/06
]]> 2022-07-18 13:52:22 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431128 6. U.S. Constitutional Law stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431280 The United States Constitution's Second Amendment states:
  • the people have the right to keep arms
  • the people have the right to bear arms
  • these rights should not be violated

U.S. Const. amend II
]]> 2022-07-18 13:52:36 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431280 8. Judicial Law stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431524 Any state that denies an individual the right to carry a weapon for self-defense is in violation of those rights, according to the Supreme Courts decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). New York's permit law stated that a citizen must have "proper cause" to apply for a handgun and that citizens must show proof of that they are in need of protection (need must be above the average person's need for protection). The Supreme Court ruled that New York's law was in violation of a citizens Second Amendment right. 

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Police, et al (2020)]]> 2022-07-18 13:53:01 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431524 9. Statutory Law stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431916 According to the Texas Penal Code, Chapter 46:
A person commits an offense of unlawfully carrying when:
  • "is not on his own property,
  • is not on property under the person's control
  • is not on private property with the consent of the owner of the property" (TX Penal Code §46.02). 

TX Penal Code §46.02 (2021) 
]]> 2022-07-18 13:53:47 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245431916 7. Texas Constitutional Law stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432401 The Texas Constitution states:
  • "Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the state"
  • "Legislature has the power to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime" (Tex. Const. art. 1 §23).

Tex. Const. art. 1 §23
]]> 2022-07-18 13:54:38 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432401 10. Administrative Law stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432819 Texas has a minimum requirement for any citizen carrying a handgun. According to the Texas Administrative Code(37 TAC §218.9), each agency that employs at least one peace officer shall meet the annual firearms proficiency standard:
  • "handguns - a minimum of 50 rounds, fired at ranges from point-blank to at least 15 yards with at least 20 rounds at or beyond seven yards, including at least one timed reload..."
  • "the minimum passing percentage shall be 70 for each firearm."
  • These requirements are allowing trainees for the marshal or Guardian programs to be at least knowledgeable of owning and handling a handgun before entering their rigorous trainings. 

Continuing Firearms Proficiency Requirements, 37. Tex. Admin. Code § 218.9
]]> 2022-07-18 13:55:27 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432819 12. Ethical Principals stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432943 According to the Texas Educator's Code of Ethics, "the educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly treat a student or minor in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health, or safety of the student or minor" (19 TAC § 247.2). 
As the rise of mass school shootings has been on the rise, many Texas school districts, especially rural districts, have adopted the Guardian Program, which allows intensely trained staff members to conceal carry on campus. This can cause an ethical dilemma if a student was to come into the school with the intent to shoot and kill only to be confronted by an armed staff member who they have a personal connection with. As educators, we are programmed to know and love all of our students, I cannot say with certainty that a staff member would be able to fulfill their duty as a Guardian if they came face to face with a student they knew, and at the same time, it is their duty to protect the other students. I personally struggle with this scenario.  

Educator's Code of Ethics, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247]]> 2022-07-18 13:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245432943 13. Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245433214 As I delved into the topic of campus carry, a broken pictured emerged, due to internal conflict. On one hand, I understand rural school districts wanting to adopt the Guardian Program because they are so far away from local authorities, and the amount of time it would take for authorities to arrive would be detrimental to the situation. On the other hand, I understand and agree that your average "Joe" does not have the proper training to respond and react in a highly stressful situation as a school shooting. I take into account our military personnel and the extensive and rigorous training that they must complete to be combat ready. Essentially this is what we are asking of our staff members, only without the extensive training. If I had to choose, I personally would choose the Marshal Program over the Guardian Program, simply due to it's training hours requirement. ]]> 2022-07-18 13:56:00 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245433214 14. Best Practices for Compliance stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245433444
  • Pre-requisite to enroll in the Guardian Program, one must possess his/her Concealed Handgun License (CHL).
  • Guardians must complete 16 hours of initial training.
  • Guardians will complete, at a minimum, annual firearm trainings, biannually is recommended.
  • Guardians will complete, at minimum, scenario based trainings, biannually is recommended. 
  • Guardians are required to attend and participate in monthly shooting range visits.
  • All local law enforcement should be made of aware of the individuals who make up the Guardian Program.
    • ]]>     2022-07-18 13:56:23 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2245433444     15. References stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2247781267 Chadwick, C. (2018, September 04). Chuck Chadwick gets "Schooled" in Public School Security: A review of Texas public school "Guardian" program. NOCSSM. https://nocssm.org/blog/review-of-school-guardian-program/

    Continuing Firearms Proficiency Requirements, 37. Tex. Admin. Code § 218.9

    Educator's Code of Ethics, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2

    Forsan Board Policy. (2019, November 11). Safety Program/Risk Management Emergency Plans. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/687?filename=CKC(LOCAL).pdf

    McGee, K. (2022, June 7). Texas Republicans want to arm more school employees, but few districts are opting in. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/07/texas-school-marshal-program/

    New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Police, et al (2020)

    Tex. Const. art. 1 §23

    TX Penal Code §46.02 (2021)

    U.S. Const. amend II

    Walsh, M. (2022, June 24). School groups worry as Supreme Court recognizes right to carry handguns in public. Education Week. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/school-groups-worry-as-supreme-court-recognizes-right-to-carry-handguns-in-public/2022/06 ]]>     2022-07-21 20:51:23 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2247781267     11. Local School Policy stacymoore3 https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2247802647 I selected the Superintendent's letter from Forsan to his stakeholders because I admired how he was direct and to the point with the reasoning behind the decision to create a Guardian program. He also gave the strategic steps that volunteers would be taking in order to be highly-trained for this extremely important role.  

    Forsan Board Policy. (2019, November 11). Safety Program/Risk Management Emergency Plans. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/687?filename=CKC(LOCAL).pdf]]>     2022-07-21 22:17:41 UTC https://padlet.com/stacymoore3/ipjfajorz7jon4u4/wish/2247802647