172 school districts in Texas allow select teachers and administrators, on each campus, to carry a concealed firearm (Alvarado, 2018). These teachers go through a training program and must complete a certain number of field training hours.  As of now, Texas allows each independent school district to decide on how their teachers will be trained (Alvarado, 2018).  However, South Dakota law makers turned the task of training teachers to carry a gun over to the local law enforcement (Rostron, 2014). 

The NRA proposed a school security plan to the federal government that would involve all schools to have an armed officer patrolling every campus (Rostron, 2014); with the officer’s salary being paid by the federal government. School shootings across our nation have continued to increase, and it would seem that the government continues to deliberate.  There has been no yet action by the federal government.  Perhaps this is the reason why local communities and school districts are taking action.  

It seems that everyone has their own opinion on how to prevent armed gunmen from entering our schools.  Regardless of ones position on gun reform, our students and teachers need to be safe if our country’s efforts to educate the masses is to continue.  The National Education Association website has a link for anyone interested to sign up for updates regarding this issue.  There is much debate over what is the correct course of action surrounding guns in public school.  Parents and educators alike, need to begin to make their voices heard if we are prevent tragedy for happening again. 

 

Rostron, A. (July, 2014). School shootings and the legislative push to arm teachers. University
of Toledo Law Review. 45, 439-455. Retrieved from 
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.easydb.angelo.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=e2e86ff8-449d-442d-849adfd5cfc93a0f%40sessionmgr120