27 People Dead, Mostly Children, at Connecticut Elementary

[artist4perry]

I nominate Parfait School safety officer. He can run around with a sling shot and protect us all. We will nick name him Barney. These hands are certified lethal weapons!

Parfait on Self Defense below: I am kidding don't get your beret in a twist.

http://youtu.be/Zo10xdN2Rds

[ebake02]

Oregon Mall Shooting Stopped By Licensed Gun Carrier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dsV6TCwd0o

[Memorex]

Maybe the government ought to figure out how to keep track of and control their own guns before they worry about everyone else's.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/12/18/cbs-news-fast-and-furious-gun-found-at-site-where-mexican-beauty-queen-killed/

[artist4perry]

Handing out guns to teachers? Are all you people completely retarded?

The statistics doesn't lie. More guns = more gun fatalities. All the second amendment yammering doesn't mean much, when people die needlessly. Not to mention the harm caused by the American gun manufacturing and the subsequent export to Mexico.

What would Jesus do?

May as well eliminate cars too, because they kill lots of people every year as well. How about trees, got to eliminate trees because every year falling trees and their branches fall on people and kill them too. And I'm not even going to go into how many people use spoons to eat themselves to death every year.

Do you really compare a car to a gun? Seriously?

Nobody fires a gun to get to school, to take their grandmother to a doctor's appointment or to help a neighbor get to their job, and inadvertently ends up blowing somebody's head off. The release of a gun's trigger has no additional function other than causing harm.

Guns and trees? Jeesh...

No but drivers run over crowds of cyclists and pedestrians because they are mad. Many a wife has made their husbands and ex's speed bumps... Yes the purpose of a gun can be a good thing. It helps a family budget by putting meat on the table, it also helps animals not overpopulate because we all know starvation and disease is so much the better way to die. Hunting serves a purpose. Venison is quite tasty when prepared well. We had venison roast that my nieces husband hunted and prepared for us in addition to the turkey we had on Christmas...it was delicious!

http://youtu.be/zWSOxCsAYc0

http://youtu.be/gfJyibVyEyg

http://youtu.be/gu-yfepYnzE

http://youtu.be/N8rGkH5iv6U

[Andrew]

I've been saying it for years, and it's never more needed...EVERY school in this country needs an armed, on duty, Police Officer in the building at all times.

Maybe right.

But pretty sad state of affairs if so.

[Andrew]

Handing out guns to teachers? Are all you people completely retarded?

The statistics doesn't lie. More guns = more gun fatalities. All the second amendment yammering doesn't mean much, when people die needlessly. Not to mention the harm caused by the American gun manufacturing and the subsequent export to Mexico.

What would Jesus do?

May as well eliminate cars too, because they kill lots of people every year as well. How about trees, got to eliminate trees because every year falling trees and their branches fall on people and kill them too. And I'm not even going to go into how many people use spoons to eat themselves to death every year.

Such a lame argument sorry. And one that's constantly rolled out.

[artist4perry]

I've been saying it for years, and it's never more needed...EVERY school in this country needs an armed, on duty, Police Officer in the building at all times.

Maybe right.

But pretty sad state of affairs if so.

As I have said Andrew...it is working so far in a school that has already seen this kind of senseless violence. The kids love the on campus cop and are not afraid of him, he has become their buddy. Trust me I wish so bad our school had one on campus. It might not detour a crazy person by itself, but he might just be the one to end the situation quicker and save lives in the process. Our state of affairs are sad already. If not a gun another weapon would be chosen. I just won't sleep any easier just because guns are banned. I am not arguing because I want one either.

But people cry get rid of video games...is it video games? Or someone who cannot divide fiction from reality that should not own them? Rid violence in movies...can you see us going back to watching Lucy and Dick Van Dike? Not that it would bother me...I liked those shows! LOL But as I said there has to be a correct balance in all this. Don't we all watch violence in television? Even as a kid cowboy movies and cop shows were full of violence.

So is it the objects and things in the life of these kids the problem in itself or is it the child's mental state? Are we helping moms with higher functioning learning disorders? I can tell you as a mom of a child with a learning disorder that help is almost impossible to get unless they are physically and visibly learning impaired. I tried for years to get help with my son. I finally had to do all the research I could to make sure I did the best I could to raise him without any help. Unless you have lots of money help is not available. I can say she was unwise to use guns as a hobby for a child that had trouble with empathy. Asperger's Syndrome children suffer from a lack of empathy towards others. They have deep mood swings and they cannot relate well socially but often want to. How do I know? My son has both ADD and Asperger's. He is learning to relate to others through constant modeling from me and through some great friends who help us help him. It does take many people to help a child like this fit in.

[StevePerryHair]

I see your point, and think it's not a bad one, but who is to say that the cop won't snap someday and shoot students?

While anything certainly could happen, I've never once heard of a story about a cop shooting up a school and killing innocent children, so I'm willing to take my chances on this one. Not to mention, if someone were truly that whacked out, he or she could probably find their way to a school. I believe that if everyone knew that there was an armed cop on duty at every school in the country, they would take their chances elsewhere. Most burglars don't break into houses with alarms. It's a whole lot easier for them to target the gazillion other houses that don't have security in place!

Our middle and high schools do have officers on campus. They have for years now. The high school has 2. Elementary never have. Because police are used more for problems within the school, not necessarily for trouble coming to them.

It really comes down to money and if cities and school systems want to pay salaries to have that kind of security. The police wouldn't keep too busy there the way they do with older kids. I don't know if I see that happening. Unless this becomes something that happens again. Then maybe they'd find it worth it.

And remember too, Virginia Tech had their own police force, and a lot of people died. Unfortunately they can't always prevent all death.

I remember people getting shot and killed at highway rest stops years ago. And rest stops put armed security at all the rest stops, and it stopped. There is something to be said for that. I just don't know the answer though. It's all just horribly sad.

[RPM]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed, and they dont have problems like this
there as of yet... but I think this needs to go one way or the other, MY preference would be NO one has guns except
the police and military, thats not gonna happen (guns smuggled thru mexico would then be the biggest moneymaker)
that being the case, everyplace there are high volumes of people there should be armed officer, and those deemed
responsible citizens should have the right to protect themselves in or away from there home. just read the kid found out
the mom was going to have him committed and snapped, if she knew he was that bad off get the damn guns out of the house.....

[Rick]

I see your point, and think it's not a bad one, but who is to say that the cop won't snap someday and shoot students?

While anything certainly could happen, I've never once heard of a story about a cop shooting up a school and killing innocent children, so I'm willing to take my chances on this one. Not to mention, if someone were truly that whacked out, he or she could probably find their way to a school. I believe that if everyone knew that there was an armed cop on duty at every school in the country, they would take their chances elsewhere. Most burglars don't break into houses with alarms. It's a whole lot easier for them to target the gazillion other houses that don't have security in place!

Our middle and high schools do have officers on campus. They have for years now. The high school has 2. Elementary never have. Because police are used more for problems within the school, not necessarily for trouble coming to them.

It really comes down to money and if cities and school systems want to pay salaries to have that kind of security. The police wouldn't keep too busy there the way they do with older kids. I don't know if I see that happening. Unless this becomes something that happens again. Then maybe they'd find it worth it.

And remember too, Virginia Tech had their own police force, and a lot of people died. Unfortunately they can't always prevent all death.

I remember people getting shot and killed at highway rest stops years ago. And rest stops put armed security at all the rest stops, and it stopped. There is something to be said for that. I just don't know the answer though. It's all just horribly sad.

Yep, this kid, learning disability or not, went to the one place he knew the people were the most defenseless. If he had just wanted to commit suicide, he could have done that at home. He wanted his name in the headlines and he got it. We'll probably see cops closer to grade schools, and had that been the case already, this kid probably would have thought of another way to achieve his goal. I'm not sure how many places can be supervised by an on-hand law enforcement official, but our kids need to be protected, first and foremost.

[StevePerryHair]

My husband said our county sheriff's dept is paying deputies off duty to sit at all of the elementary schools in our county areas. So far Orlando and surrounding cities have not followed suit. It's mainly a money thing. Who pays these guys? It's a lot of money to sit and do nothing but be a security guard. And in our society, things do come down to money. I'll be curious to see if our town follows suit. I think they will wait until the school district offers money first. It won't be in the budget. I guess the county guys will possibly be with those schools for the rest of the year. Interesting.

[StevePerryHair]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed, and they dont have problems like this
there as of yet... but I think this needs to go one way or the other, MY preference would be NO one has guns except
the police and military, thats not gonna happen (guns smuggled thru mexico would then be the biggest moneymaker)
that being the case, everyplace there are high volumes of people there should be armed officer, and those deemed
responsible citizens should have the right to protect themselves in or away from there home. just read the kid found out
the mom was going to have him committed and snapped, if she knew he was that bad off get the damn guns out of the house.....

Thats the thing that bothers me most. I can feel for her to an extent.... having a child like that is so painful itself. But for her to not have secured those guns away from her home, well I guess she paid with her life on that mistake.

[Enigma869]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed.....

Right, but Texans probably aren't the best barometer when it comes to logic. Hell, they've been trying to secede from the Union forever. Not to mention, it's probably the only state in the country that allows people to use deadly force to defend property. I'm sure Texas is full of fine people. I just wouldn't want Texas laws governing the part of the country that I call home.

[RPM]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed.....

Right, but Texans probably aren't the best barometer when it comes to logic. Hell, they've been trying to secede from the Union forever. Not to mention, it's probably the only state in the country that allows people to use deadly force to defend property. I'm sure Texas is full of fine people. I just wouldn't want Texas laws governing the part of the country that I call home.

Very true on all points.......they are a bit extreme but I am extra polite when i visit there...

[artist4perry]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed.....

Right, but Texans probably aren't the best barometer when it comes to logic. Hell, they've been trying to secede from the Union forever. Not to mention, it's probably the only state in the country that allows people to use deadly force to defend property. I'm sure Texas is full of fine people. I just wouldn't want Texas laws governing the part of the country that I call home.

Very true on all points.......they are a bit extreme but I am extra polite when i visit there...

Rick ain't too shabby. I can deal with more neighbors like him. He has a ten gallon heart.

[Memorex]

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed.....

Right, but Texans probably aren't the best barometer when it comes to logic. Hell, they've been trying to secede from the Union forever. Not to mention, it's probably the only state in the country that allows people to use deadly force to defend property. I'm sure Texas is full of fine people. I just wouldn't want Texas laws governing the part of the country that I call home.

I'm trying to see where the lack of logic is there.

[Boomchild]

I've been saying it for years, and it's never more needed...EVERY school in this country needs an armed, on duty, Police Officer in the building at all times. While it's not lost on me that it won't prevent every tragedy, it will certainly make most nutbags think twice about having to confront an armed cop in a school, and perhaps they'll head to the local Starbucks.

That is if they are concerned about getting injured or killed. As we have seen in a lot of these mass shootings they tend to off themselves after completing their objective. This is not to say that I don't think having a armed police officer or security guard wouldn't be prudent.

[Boomchild]

[ I'm not sure how many places can be supervised by an on-hand law enforcement official, but our kids need to be protected, first and foremost.

This is the argument that people that are in favor of gun ownership are saying. Our law enforcement cannot be in all places at all times. Therefore there are times when it is up to the individual to defend themselves and in come cases this can only be done with a firearm to protect or be used as a deterrent.

[StevePerryHair]

Here's the article for my county. Though elementary schools near me are not included because we have our own city police. This only includes those parts of the county schools where there are no city police. They want to leave that up to those cities to protect those schools, even though all of the schools fall under the same big county school district.

I find it interesting they are doing this and approving this in the form of overtime for deputies. It's a lot of money.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 8722.story

Orange leaders OK $3M for more deputies in elementary schools

In the wake of the Newtown shootings Lauren Roth takes a look at school security in Orlando.

By David Damron and Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel
8:58 p.m. EST, December 18, 2012

Orange County commissioners voted 6-0 Tuesday to pay up to $3 million for full-time, armed deputies at elementary schools in its unincorporated areas until the end of the academic year in a move designed to quell campus fears after last week's mass killings in Newtown, Conn.
Commissioners briefly considered putting school-resource officers at about 60 schools only until spring break in March, after hearing various budget and staffing concerns. But ultimately, the whole school year was included in the measure, the costliest decision yet to emerge in Central Florida since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that killed 20 children and six adults.
"This is the right thing to do at this time because of the mood of our population," said School Board Chairman Bill Sublette. "You've got to do something to reassure them."

Since the rampage, Central Florida school officials have been trying to soothe fears through online statements, phone messages and lettershometo assure the community that children are still safe behind schoolhouse doors.
"We are walking every campus," said Seminole school Superintendent Walt Griffin. "We are taking the time to look at every school and talking to principals and parents and taking suggestions on what we can do to enhance safety."
Down By The River: Florida's rivers are plagued with pollution, and it's only getting worse. Read Part 3 of our investigative series in Wednesday's paper.

Across the region, school-district officials almost unanimously say they'll have more law-enforcement presence this week and are reviewing their security procedures to see what might be improved. Districts say they've placed more staffers on campus to help supervise, and that threats or suggestions of campus violence will be dealt with swiftly.
In Seminole, teachers have been encouraged to lock their doors and district staffers are making sure that each school has only one outside entrance. In Lake, the district cautioned students about what they post on social media.
But Orange County leaders decided to do more by adding the additional deputies. School-resource officers currently work full time at middle and high schools but are at elementary-school campuses only about once weekly in Orange.
Mayor Teresa Jacobs said she spearheaded the idea to give students and parents a greater sense of security while the community has a chance to "understand, comprehend and prepare" for any further safety measures that might be needed. She said the money would come from expected budget surplus or reserves.
Most agreed that Sandy Hook teachers and officials were prepared and had followed lockdown procedures when the gunman broke into their school.
"The only thing that might have changed that outcome" would have been a deputy on the grounds that day, Jacobs said.
No one opposed the Orange policy, but some concerns were voiced.
Sheriff Jerry Demings continued to say it would be a challenge to accomplish given his staffing options. When supervisory, detective and other restricted personnel were taken away, only about 550 of his 1,500 deputies would be available to take on the work.
Because recruiting and training new deputies would take a year or more, all the school-hour shifts must be filled through overtime, he said. Demings said he would need about 120 to 180 deputies of the 550 to make it work every day at all 60 campuses.
"It's probably not sustainable for us to do that in the long term," Demings said. He said, however, that it would not compromise safety in other parts of the county.
Commissioner Scott Boyd warned that parents would likely grow accustomed to having armed deputies, making it hard to take away the next school year.
Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell complained that her district lies mostly in area cities, so the added protection in unincorporated schools largely bypasses her.
Other security measures already are in place in Orange.
More than half of the county's 184 schools are either newly built or have been renovated or replaced since 2003. Those schools have been designed with security features in mind, such as tall gates and a single external entrance.
Some older schools, which are being gradually replaced, have classroom doors that open to external walkways. Newer schools have doors that open to the inside. However, portable classrooms, which are used when schools are crowded, still have external doors. Schools also have security cameras that can be monitored from a central location.
The challenge for school districts is to realize that it's all but impossible to provide 100 percent protection against violent acts, said Ronald Stephens, executive director of National School Safety Center.
"At the end of the day part of it is realizing: What is the human capacity to do this?" he said. "How do we create a balance between keeping the campus safe and not turning it into an armed camp?"
He said the answer is not always in the providing more equipment or better security plans.
"When we look at solutions, it is not just about more barriers, more metal detectors and more intrusive mechanisms in our schools," he said. "It goes to broader society issues like how do you showcase and train things like simple courtesy, thoughtfulness and citizen responsibility?"

[FinnFreak]

This was interesting to watch...

CNN - PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT: Guns in America


Larry Pratt, Executive director of Gun Owners of America:

"Evil's in our hearts. Not in the guns"


On the heels of the tragic Newtown, Conn. school shooting which left 26 people dead, this evening "Piers Morgan Tonight" invited Larry Pratt to the program to share his strong perspective on the firearm debate.

"Since we have concealed carry laws in all of our country now, people can get a concealed firearm. And yet, we have laws that say not in schools," the Executive Director of Gun Owners of America said. "And so in the very places that have been sought out by monsters such as the murderer of these adults and children, we're saying, 'no, we don't want you to be able to defend yourself. It's better that you just sit there and wait to be killed.' And we find that morally incomprehensible."

Pratt says he's deeply disturbed by the anti-gun supporters.

...

PRATT: Americans with firearms in their homes typically have them locked in a safe. As I do. And as most gun owners certainly do. The fact that this woman did not and knew that her son was unstable, reflected poorly on her judgment. And unhappily, she paid very dearly for her poor judgment. But that's not the reason that you should be able to come down on everybody else who's a law abiding gun owner who uses good sense and to say we've got to pay for that person's stupidity, for their shortcomings.

That's just not going to wash. We're not going to let it happen, Mr. Morgan.

MORGAN: I'm sure you're not going to try and let it happen. You see my argument is not about the American's right to defend themselves in their home with a firearm. That's not the argument that I'm trying to put out there. My argument is the same as the argument that Senator Feinstein said, that the president endorses. That I believe many, many Americans now believe, following this tragedy which is that there is absolutely no use and no justification for these AR-15 type assault weapons --

PRATT: Oh, the contrary.

MORGAN: Let me finish.

PRATT: How can you say such a thing?

MORGAN: Let me finish my sentence.

PRATT: The Korean merchants in Los Angeles use these kinds of firearms to protect their lives and businesses.

MORGAN: Let me finish my sentence.

PRATT: And for you to say there's no useful purpose for these guns, that's just completely wrong.

MORGAN: OK. Let me finish my sentence. There are these assault weapons, which have been used now in movie theaters, in shopping malls, in elementary schools to murder many, many Americans. And now 20 5-year-old children. And they are armed with magazines, 30 at a time here, a hundred in Aurora, in a movie theater.

And your only answer, Mr. Pratt, to people that want to get rid of both the magazines and these assault weapons, if I'm not mistaken, is to let everybody else have similar weapons? Is that the solution to America's gun murder problems?

PRATT: I would challenge you to go and tell the Korean merchants who survived the riots in Los Angeles, sorry, you had those firearms that saved your lives.

MORGAN: Can you answer my question?

PRATT: I'm answering your question. I wish you could understand it. Because you're talking against self-defense.

MORGAN: Would you like to see -- would you like to see -- would you like to see --

PRATT: You're talking against people being able to protect themselves.

MORGAN: Would you like to see teachers armed --

PRATT: And you don't want to hear it, that's why you keep interrupting me.

MORGAN: No, no, I don't mind hearing it. I think it's complete nonsense. But I mind hearing it. You would like to see --

PRATT: Well, the press tend to do that, don't they?

MORGAN: Stop being so facetious. I just want you to answer this one question. Post what happened at Sandy Hook, your answer to this problem of repeated use of this weapon with these high-capacity magazines is to continue letting Americans buy them with impunity, and to not concern yourself with these mass shootings, is that right?

PRATT: The Second Amendment means what it says, and meanwhile, you want to continue laws against self-defense. Laws that prohibit self-defense. Laws that prohibit teachers and other faculty, other members of the administration in schools from being able to defend themselves if they have a concealed carry permit. The laws prohibit them right now. We have been lobbying against those laws since they were put on. We will continue to do so, pointing out that that is where the problem is.

And for you to support them means that you're really blind to the role that that plays in enabling murders to operate within impunity.

MORGAN: Yes, I know -- I know why sales of these weapons have been soaring in the last few days. It's down to idiots like you.

Mr. Pratt, thank you for joining me.

When we come back --

PRATT: Thank you for your high-level argument, Mr. Morgan. It's really good.

MORGAN: You know what, you wouldn't understand the meaning of the phrase high-level argument. You are a dangerous man espousing dangerous nonsense. You shame your country.

PRATT: Disarmament is dangerous. (INAUDIBLE) into role model.

MORGAN: Yes. Sure. I know all about role models and you're not one of them.

Full transcript: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ ... mt.01.html



John -

[ebake02]

I watched that last night. While I support gun ownership and the second amendment, I found Larry Pratt and his position to be a little disturbing.

[Memorex]

I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I don;t see the need for assault rifles, but more and more there is a need for self protection. The right thinks any talk of "control" is unacceptable and the left wants to shame those who believe it is ok to own a firearm.

I think if I picture in my head a school where a teacher is walking around with protection, it doesn't bother me at all. But when someone says "We want to arm teachers now?", it sounds bad.

If people are going to harm the general public, then we have two choices. Armed patrol everywhere (which is not possible in a country our size) or better protected citizens. I'm certainly not saying everyone should walk around packing. People should be trained.

I also think you can look at guns with rubber bullets, etc.

I think whatever recommendations are made, it has to ask the questions - "Will this prevent what is happening, and if not, is it putting citizens at further risk?" My concern is the government is going to go for a gun grab and not fix the problem and make it worse. Hopefully it will be a well thought out strategy that actually looks at the real problems.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Handing out guns to teachers? Are all you people completely retarded?

The statistics doesn't lie. More guns = more gun fatalities. All the second amendment yammering doesn't mean much, when people die needlessly. Not to mention the harm caused by the American gun manufacturing and the subsequent export to Mexico.

What would Jesus do?

May as well eliminate cars too, because they kill lots of people every year as well. How about trees, got to eliminate trees because every year falling trees and their branches fall on people and kill them too. And I'm not even going to go into how many people use spoons to eat themselves to death every year.

Such a lame argument sorry. And one that's constantly rolled out.

What's lame is people/groups blaming an object instead of humans bad behavior. Point is, if someone wants to kill or harm others, they will use whatever means possible to do so. If it's not a gun it's going to be something else like knives, vehicles, bats, poison, bombs, etc. Look at how many mass murders happen in places like Japan. One mentally ill janitor killed 8 or so kids with a knife at school while that guy in Tokyo in 2008 ran over people with a rental vehicle and then got out and stabbed people to death while walking down the street. Look at how many people were killed without being shot by Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson's group, Leonard Lake & Charles Ng. Look at how many prisoners kill other inmates without a gun. Issue is people wanting to kill people, not so much what type of instrument they use to do it.

[G.I.Jim]

Handing out guns to teachers? Are all you people completely retarded?

The statistics doesn't lie. More guns = more gun fatalities. All the second amendment yammering doesn't mean much, when people die needlessly. Not to mention the harm caused by the American gun manufacturing and the subsequent export to Mexico.

What would Jesus do?

Tell you to stop using his name in vain.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Things are about to get really good. Biden has been put in charge of the gun issue.

[slucero]

If Obama has put Biden put in charge of it, and isn't spear-heading this himself, he's doing so because he realizes the chances of success are small, and doesn't want to be blamed for getting nothing done..

[conversationpc]

Things are about to get really good. Biden has been put in charge of the gun issue.

Things get really funny whenever Biden's put in charge of ANYTHING.

[jaxmanjoe]

I recall a certain soldier walking onto a base full of highly-trained, armed soldiers and killing 13 and wounding 29. How are guns in the hands of a couple of teachers or principals really going to stop the violence? I also remember the highly-trained cops at the Empire State Building shooting 8-9 innocent civilians because of the confusion of what was going on.

Armed or not; trained or not; more guns don't offer solutions.

Anyone wielding a semi-automatic assault rifle or other high capacity clip arm is in position to create massive casualties in ANY situation. NIH says that about one in four people suffer from mental illness to some degree. That means that one if four gun owners, or people with access to guns suffers from some mental illness. Take millions of gun owners and millions more who have access to those guns and you do the math.

I'm sure everyone who owns a gun on this board is a 'responsible' gun owner. They all say that. The facts speak otherwise... Guns are too readily available to some psycho with an agenda.

[jaxmanjoe]

Oh, and sorry for my earlier rant...just venting a bit.

[epresley]

I'm a Texan AND a middle school principal. I am NOT in favor of carrying, nor my teachers carrying weapons. I am, though, in favor of hiring security for the school, someone who is trained and that has the authority to arrest. We did have a student threaten to bring a gun to school last year--thank God nothing happened, but it was kinda scary. This year I have been assaulted by two emotionally disturbed students. My friends, whilst we're presented with the most difficult state standardized test in Texas history, funding cuts, and curriculum crammed down our throats, the reality is we must also deal with a changing world. It's a scary business these days.

Well if you were to ask a Texan they would say make sure the teacher is armed.....

Right, but Texans probably aren't the best barometer when it comes to logic. Hell, they've been trying to secede from the Union forever. Not to mention, it's probably the only state in the country that allows people to use deadly force to defend property. I'm sure Texas is full of fine people. I just wouldn't want Texas laws governing the part of the country that I call home.