Superintendent authorizes select staff members to bring guns with concealed-weapon permit
District informed families Tuesday of six-year-old policy
Firearms must be stored in lockboxes; teachers banned from bringing weapons
A student drags a wagon full of breakfasts from the cafeteria to a classroom at White Rock Elementary School in Rancho Cordova on Friday, March 20, 2015. Randall Benton rbenton@sacbee.com
Select employees at the Folsom Cordova Unified School District have been allowed to store and access guns in case of an emergency for several years, district officials announced for the first time Tuesday.
The 20,000-student district has allowed a handful of staff with concealed-weapon permits to bring guns onto campus for the past six years. But Superintendent Deborah Bettencourt said Tuesday that she decided to send a letter to families explaining the policy after rumors circulated that teachers were being asked to carry guns on campus.
“We aren’t going to allow guns in the classroom,” she said, noting that teachers are not authorized to have firearms on campus. “We just aren’t going to do that.”
Folsom Cordova’s policy appears to be rare in the Sacramento region. Sacramento County’s four largest districts – Sacramento City Unified, Elk Grove Unified, San Juan Unified and Twin Rivers Unified – do not allow employees, other than law enforcement, to bring guns on campus, their spokespeople said Tuesday.
A new state law, Senate Bill 707, prohibits those with concealed-weapon permits to bring guns on campus except with written permission from the superintendent.
Bettencourt said she has worked with local law enforcement to implement a security program that includes allowing trained employees she approves to keep firearms at work in a locked gun vault near their work area. She said the gun would be used in case of a shooter on campus or for some other immediate danger.
“I’m too aware of the mass shootings in school communities and the dangers posed by criminals who want to do harm,” she said in her letter to parents.
Bettencourt said she has felt threatened in the past when the district laid off employees and knows of incidents involving angry people in the district office and at schools. She said police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available.
Under the district’s policy, holders of concealed-weapon permits can ask for approval to leave a gun on campus in single-weapon vaults that require a key and digital combination to open. Bettencourt said only she and the gun owner have access to the vaults.
Because teachers and bus drivers aren’t allowed to bring weapons, permit holders are generally administrators or school support staff, she said.
About a third of the district’s 33 schools have a gun on campus, Bettencourt said. She wouldn’t reveal which schools for security reasons.
“There are not enough to cover all the schools,” she said.
The district hadn’t widely shared its policy because Bettencourt said it is a security protocol that is best not shared. Because state law allows a superintendent to decide who can bring a gun on campus, the topic is generally discussed in closed session as a personnel matter and the item never makes its way onto an agenda, she said.
Teachers and parents were only made aware of the policy and the guns on campus on Tuesday.
“This is a long-standing practice that is legal and necessary and is unfortunately a sad reflection of the dangers in our society today,” said district spokesman Daniel Thigpen.
Jana Lee Daebelliehn, an officer in the Parent-Teacher-Student Organization at Vista del Lago, said she only learned Tuesday about the policy. She has a daughter who is a junior at the high school and a son in sixth grade at Folsom Middle School.
She said she was still thinking through the issues.
“This is all new to me because I didn’t know they had done that,” Daebelliehn said.
“There are pros and cons. There have been so many school shootings that by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder,” she said. “Of course, there are other ways to stop intruders, too, without having the guns.”
On the other hand, she said, “I don’t know where the guns are. All of the schools are so different. I don’t know if they would be easily accessible to get to on time.”
Participants aren’t sought out, but have learned of the program by word of mouth, according to Bettencourt. The publicity generated by the letter could bring more requests, she said.
The Folsom Cordova Unified policy requires the concealed-weapon permit holder to work with an approved trainer and go through a personal interview with Bettencourt. Applicants also must carry their own personal liability insurance. There is not extra pay for the responsibility, Bettencourt said.
The weapon carriers are expected to follow certain protocols before, during and after an active shooter scenario, Bettencourt said. She said she couldn’t be more specific – for security reasons.
“They believe in standing between someone that wants to do harm to our kids,” Bettencourt said.
The school board has signed off on the policy, she said.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Tony Turnbull said his agency’s role is to be the “issuing authority” for concealed-weapon permits. His department has issued 7,500 such permits, but did not have data Tuesday on how many of those belong to Folsom Cordova school employees.
“We remain a resource for the school district or the Folsom Police Department should they ask,” Turnbull said. “But they’re an independent school district. They can make their own decisions under the law.”
Spokespeople for other districts in the Sacramento area said they do not authorize employees to carry concealed weapons on campus.
“The question has come up before,” said Trent Allen, spokesman for the San Juan Unified School District, which has 49,600 students. “The only individuals we would allow to have any weapons on our campuses are law enforcement personnel.”
The question came up, Allen said, when individuals on campus “for whatever reason” felt a security issue existed. He said the board has an adopted policy “and our practice does not allow for weapons to be on our campus, period, except for law enforcement.”
I feel that guns on campus is a good thing. Especialy if they are in the hands of someone who has been trained to use them. The only thing i can think of that may be a possible problem, is what if a student finds out where the guns are hidden? Even then i feel that it is till not that big of am issue if they are locked up. Guns on campus may help to slow down the school shootings and hopefully save lives.
ReplyDeleteHaving guns at school can be either a good thing or a bad thing. On the good side, it could be nice to have these weapons in case of an intruder on campus. "Allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Bettencourt). This could prevent a lot of kids from getting hurt. But on the bad side, these weapons could get into the wrong hands. Although these weapons would be locked up, they could easily be taken out and get into the hands of a student. Also, if students know that teachers had guns, it could make the students feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think this is a good step in the right direction moving to safer campuses. With the rise in gun violence its very important for students to feel safe at school. Paragraph 6 states "the gun would be used in case of a shooter on campus or for some other immediate danger(Lambert/Kalb)." By allowing teachers and school administrators to carry fire arms I believe gun violence and school shooting would decrease a lot.
ReplyDeleteI agree that having guns on campus can either be a good thing or a bad thing. They could be helpful to stop an intruder but if they got into the wrong hands that would not be good. It does take time for police officers to respond, but it probably takes about the same amount of time it would to find a unlock where the guns are. She said "police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available" (Sacramento Bee).
ReplyDeleteThank god, this is the smartest decision ever, this will save lives. There should be a trained professional who can protect students, think if they had one armed police officer at one of the school shooting, many lives would have been saved. Em surprised they were able to do this, Obama has spread his message that guns kill people, so I thought that this wouldn't be possible. Obama has clenched his fists on gun laws, trying to ban them, but luckily everyone in this country hasn't gone mad. Guns are used to protect yourself or your family from any who are trying to threaten you or your family's life's. I believe if they had 2 to 4 individuals on campus who are armed, and those 2 to 4 people have had guns for years and have gone through gun safety courses, then that school would be completely safe.
ReplyDeleteKollin Swinney
P5
Having guns on campus could potentially provoke more injuries or dangerous situations on campus, although it may be helpful in some situations. As said by the Sacramento Bee "police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available" (Sacramento Bee) this is where having a gun on campus might be ok, but I still believe it should stay with the teachers only and locked up.
ReplyDeleteMegan Welter Per. 2
I think that guns at school isn't a bad idea. In my opinion it only seems logical that if strangers can cone to school campuses to massacre children that it only makes sense to have autorized staff on duty to defend the school. This won't solve the issue of school shootings but it could definitely help. - Sabrina Shaw
ReplyDeleteI do think it is alright to have a gun in the classroom. However, for safety reasons only! I understand that a teacher or staff member would want to have a gun in case of an intruder, or other life-threatening danger. I agree with the quote, "There are pros and cons. There have been so many school shootings that by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder,” (Jana Lee Daebelliehn) Having a gun in the classroom could save lives. The gun would not be out in the open. It would be concealed, hidden away so the students could not get to the weapon.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, having guns at school is both good and bad. It is only good if their was an intruder on campus. Then we could help save a bunch of lives in a day. It is bad if a weapon gets into the wrong hands at a public school. We need to give guns to students and teachers only if they are licensed and know how to successfully use it without harming anyone else. A con to this situation is, where are teachers going to keep the weapon? It would be helpful to keep it out in case you have to act fast in a classroom, but if it was put away, you could't get to it as fast and it would be a bad idea. Brandon Marshall Period 4
ReplyDeleteThe privilege of having guns at school could be good and bad. Students being able to protect themselves better with a weapon is a good thing, and would overall produce a safer campus. On the other hand, the ability to carry weapons could be extremely bad because the problem of unnecessary violence and use of weapons arises. With great power comes great responsibility, and the privilege of having guns on campus could either be good or really bad.
ReplyDeleteHannah Miller, p2
I don't believe that anyone on a school campus would need a gun. instead of focusing on the unarmed teachers "problem" we should focus on the real problem. The real problem is unstable Americans shooting people. We should try as a nation to stop these shooting before they happen. Guns don't belong in schools period.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that having guns at school is a good idea. I don't feel comfortable or safe around anybody with a gun cause i feel like it is more likely something will go wrong. "Allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Bettencourt). I do not agree with this quote because just because they are qualified for having a gun could look like a challenge to others.
ReplyDelete-Rhys Kennedy
Per. 6
I dont think anyone, besides law enforcement officers, should be allowed to have guns on campus. While some people may feed safer with guns on campus, i wouldn't feel comfortable whether the guns were in the hand of the principal or a teacher. There is more bad that could happen with guns then good and the risks of guns on campus are not worth it.
ReplyDeleteRecently I was with my dad in the car listening to MPR News and I remember they were talking about a school that actually has a gun on their campus, but it was in a vault. Any who, one thing that caught my eye during my reading was this quote said by Jana Lee Daebelliehn, she said “There are pros and cons. There have been so many school shootings
ReplyDeletethat by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder,”
she said. “Of course, there are other ways to stop intruders, too, without having the guns.” I strongly disagree with her first quote, I don't believe that's one of the best ways to stop an intruder, because if the intruder themselves find out that certain schools have guns kept away in their campus, there is likely a big chance that gun will be found and taken by the intruder, but I like how she includes there are better ways to solve this issue without bringing guns into schools.
My mom has been a teacher for this district for almost 15 years and had never heard about this until a couple days ago. She said that it does not make her feel any safer and the only thing that would make the teachers feel safe is having a police officer on campus at all times. “We aren’t going to allow guns in the classroom,” she said, noting that teachers are not authorized to have firearms on campus. “We just aren’t going to do that" (Bettencourt). If someone I knew had a gun at our school, i would not feel any safer.
ReplyDeleteEmily Bobrowsky- Period 1
Thank god, this is the smartest decision ever, this will save lives. There should be a trained professional who can protect students, think if they had one armed police officer at one of the school shooting, many lives would have been saved. Em surprised they were able to do this, Obama has spread his message that guns kill people, so I thought that this wouldn't be possible. Obama has clenched his fists on gun laws, trying to ban them, but luckily everyone in this country hasn't gone mad. Guns are used to protect yourself or your family from any who are trying to threaten you or your family's life's. I believe if they had 2 to 4 individuals on campus who are armed, and those 2 to 4 people have had guns for years and have gone through gun safety courses, then that school would be completely safe.
ReplyDeleteI think this can both be a great thing and a bad thing. First, this could help to protect students and staff in case someone with a weapon comes onto the school and tries to hard others. It could also make some students feel safer since they will have this little bit of protection in case something goes wrong. On the other side though, this could turn into something very dangerous. If a student where to find out where the gun or guns are hidden, they could basically do whatever they want with them. They could take the gun home or they could open fire at school. I think this is a step in the right direction for protecting students and staff at schools, but I don't think it is exactly the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteAlena Romero Period 5
"concealed-weapon permits to bring guns onto campus for the past six years." Allowing staff members to bring fire arms onto a school campus seems okay. It seems like an effective way for a school to protect itself. AS long as nothing goes wrong, I think it is fine for a select few staff members to have guns to protect the school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bob the Builder, I always believed it would be a great idea to have teachers on campus that are trained and certified to have a gun on campus. Allowing teachers to have guns on campus makes it so that if somebody comes on campus with intent to harm, the teachers can protect the students. I disagree with what other people are saying about kids getting a hold of them because if the gun is in a proper gun safe the kid would need to be great at picking locks or need a blow torch to get in. I honestly would feel much safer if teachers were trained and owned fire arms
ReplyDeleteLuke Samuels
Period 4
When I first saw this article, I highly disagreed with it. But as I read it more, I began to think that having guns on school campuses is a good thing. I agree with Daebelliehn when she says that “There have been so many school shootings that by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder". School shootings have been occuring more and more and I think in order to protect the children and teachers, guns should be allowed. I highly agree with the fact that the "Folsom Cordova Unified policy requires the concealed-weapon permit holder to work with an approved trainer and go through a personal interview with Bettencourt"(Lambert). I believe that in order for guns to be allowed on school grounds, they must be in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing. All in all, I do believe that having guns on school campus is needed for schools to feel fully protected.
ReplyDeleteHannah Spence
per 2
Like every controversial topic, having guns on campus can be good and bad. Yes, there would be protection in case of an intruder incident. Teachers would be able to effectively provide self-defense for their students and potentially save lives. There is a negative side as well. Many students may not feel safe knowing a teacher is in possession of a gun. The article states, "Bettencourt said she has worked with local law enforcement to implement a security program that includes allowing trained employees she approves to keep firearms at work in a locked gun vault near their work area. She said the gun would be used in case of a shooter on campus or for some other immediate danger." (Lambert/Kalb). This illustrating that the teachers who would be in possession of the weapons would be properly and thoroughly trained. The employees would also be required to keep the firearm in a sealed vault. Personally, I would feel safe if a teacher carried a weapon only if they were properly trained and it was in a safe. Having a small amount of teacher possess guns could possibly save countless lives if there was a school shooting.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Hum
Per. 1
I think it's a terrible idea to have guns at school. The fact of knowing that a firearm might be in the classroom is not a great feeling. You can never be sure whether the gun is in the right hands or not. It would be okay for for firearms at the school if they weren't in teachers hands, "except for the law enforcement"(Trent Allen).
ReplyDeleteI can see the pros and cons to having guns at school. With concealed guns you may be able to stop a dangerous situation sooner, and protect the kids in the campus. This is great, but on the contrary, law enforcement could be at the school soon, and may be able to control the situation better. Concealed guns at school could be potentially dangerous, and could cause many problems. I think it is best if only law enforcement carries guns on school campuses. To illustrate, "Folsom Cordova’s policy appears to be rare in the Sacramento region. Sacramento County’s four largest districts – Sacramento City Unified, Elk Grove Unified, San Juan Unified and Twin Rivers Unified – do not allow employees, other than law enforcement, to bring guns on campus"(LAMBERT AND KALB).
ReplyDeleteRenee Gibson, period 2
Folsom cordova school disrict is not smart for allowing people to carry guns on campus. They could be used in the wrong hands to injure or kill students or other teachers. the only good thing is that if somebody ever walked onto the campus with a gun threatening the people on campus the they could use those guns to stop or if needed shoot this person.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of benefits and drawbacks to having guns on a campus. Gun related topics are often controversial and difficult to take a side. A benefit of having guns on campus would be for teachers to protect students in case of an intruder. But, something that can make students feel uncomfortable is the fact that the teacher has a loaded and cocked gun in their room. "Bettencourt said she has worked with local law enforcement to implement a security program that includes allowing trained employees she approves to keep firearms at work in a locked gun vault near their work area. She said the gun would be used in case of a shooter on campus or for some other immediate danger" (Lambert/Kalb). Think about this though, since this article is on the news and potential intruders know that the school is filled with guns on campus, what is the actual possibility of an invasion at the school occuring?
ReplyDeleteMarie Ong-- Period 6
Folsom Cordova school district needs to be extremely careful when dealing with guns. They made some good reasons for having them such as "She said police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Folsom Cordova). This is a very ample reason to allow staff to carry guns. The guns have to be extremely hidden and only a certain trusted few should know where they are.
ReplyDeleteFolsom Cordova district should be very careful. Not only is it dangerous but it can be a reasonable argument. In the article it states," police officers can take up to 2-3 minutes to respond." This is a good reason why staff should be allowed to carry guns. If they allow staff to have these weapons, they must be used in only extreme circumstances and must be hidden very well.
ReplyDeletei feel like this is a very stupid idea because if a student is crazy enough to try and take the gun away from a staff member, we could have a serious problem on our hands. i just think it is best to not have any firearms on campus unless you are a police officer. they really need to make sure the people they are letting on campus with the guns are trained properly so that they can hide it well. we dont want a person to be walking around and a gun falls out of his/her pants now do we ?
ReplyDelete“This is a long-standing practice that is legal and necessary and is unfortunately a sad reflection of the dangers in our society today”(Daniel Thigpen). Society is a dangerous place and in my opinion nobody can be trusted with a gun besides law enforcement (and sometimes these officials make bad decisions with firearms). Having a gun on a school campus does not make the environment safer. I would not like knowing the fact a gun is in the hands of a person who may or may not have the right intentions with their easy access. At the end of the day, this seems like a good idea until it is proven otherwise, but the consequences off an idea like this is too risky and might make some parents uneasy.
ReplyDeleteAlexis Miller Period 6
In my opinion, this is a bad idea. We never know if some kid will be crazy enough to get a hold of a gun and start shooting people they don't like. I feel that some kids might not be uncomfortable knowing that they were guns on campus. I do agree with "Folsom Cordova Unified policy requires the concealed-weapon permit holder to work with an approved trainer and go through a personal interview with Bettencourt"(Lambert). With this we know that the teachers who will gave guns are trained and know when to use it. Folsom Cordova district needs to be careful allowing guns on campus.
ReplyDelete- Sheila Ordukhani per 2
I personally believe letting teachers have firearms on campus is uncalled for. Having such an easy access to such a powerful weapon is never safe even if the adult who owns it is experienced. “This is a long-standing practice that is legal and necessary and is unfortunately a sad reflection of the dangers in our society today,” (Sacramento Bee). Its a terrible thought knowing teachers want to keep firearms on campus because of all the recent mass shootings. Our society is getting worse and worse but allowing teachers to keep a gun on campus just makes it even more dangerous. I understand an officer on campus with loaded weapons because they have trained and are prepared for any moment to use them but, a teacher who is not that experienced is not the safest in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMost people think that allowing "a handful of staff with concealed-weapon permits to bring guns onto campus"(Sac Bee) is a bad idea. However, I believe that if these weapons are locked away, used by legally permitted individuals, and are only used as protection against school shooters, then it will be an extremely effective solution. It's sad that we have gotten to the point where we need to bring weapons onto our school campus's, just to feel a sense of security and protection. But I think this would be a pretty smart solution to the problem at hand.
ReplyDeleteSydney Crozier
Period 2
I believe having a gun on campus under someone who is trained and responsible is great idea. This would keep campus's safe and keep kids would be able to walk around campus knowing they are safe. "I’m too aware of the mass shootings in school communities and the dangers posed by criminals who want to do harm " (Sacremento Bee). Schools can now feel less in danger with the gun under a trained, responsible person.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe having weapons on campus is right, or necessary. Some may say that it can be helpful for dangerous situations but I think it will cause more conflict. Questions can be brought up about safety, who will have access, and when would it be necessary to use. I think there can be other, more successful ways to provide a safe enviornment for students.
ReplyDeleteHaving a gun on campus could be a positive or negative thing. I happen to think it is more on the positive side. It is good to have in case of things such as dangerous intruders or school shootings. If a school employee is going to have a gun it must be in a safe place where no one but that person can get to it.
ReplyDeleteKyle Brown P.5
I think this topic can really go either way. It could be a good thing or a bad thing. It can be good in the way that with all the mass shootings going on staff having guns on campus can prevent more mass shootings from happening. On the bad side it might not be the safest thing giving untrained teachers guns. Maybe law enforcement officials on campuses with loaded weapons would be safer but not untrained teachers.
ReplyDeleteJohn Fortino
Per. 5
Guns have been in the news a lot lately. Bringing them into schools is mostly a plus but can also have some negative factors, i believe that having people that are athorized to have gun is a good choice and a safe way to keep the school safe,but also if people get a hold of the guns that are not athorized. "Allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Bettencourt).
ReplyDeleteThe implementation of weapons on campus could have good and bad points. Having weapons with trainer handlers in case of an intruder on campus would be a great idea. "Allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Bettencourt). This could ensure the safety of the students. But on the con side, these weapons could get misused. Even though the weapons are locked away someone could still be able to break in. Also, if students know that teachers had guns, it could make the students feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Therefore there are two sides to this implementation. Gabi LaBeaux p.6
ReplyDeleteI agree that having guns on campus is a good idea. Having a gun on campus will bring that gun shootings way down. “There have been so many school shootings that by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder"(Lambert/Kalb). In the states that allow people to carry weapons, the crime rate is way down. This is because everyone can protect themselves. If a gun can be kept locked away and only operated by a permitted adult, then having a gun on school campus is a great solution.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, it's not a bad idea to let some teachers have guns at school. Yes, there's some danger in letting teachers have them but they could be used at the needed moments. If an intruder were to come to a school, have a gun on them and start to go after children, then it would be vitally important for the teachers to have guns with them so that they can protect the students like they should be doing in such situations. So all in all I think that the guns aren't a horrible thing and if they continue to have them they should be used appropriately.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't think it will be a good idea to let some of the teachers have guns at school. There are many things that could possibly go wrong with it. Such as a student could get ahold of the gun and shoot people. On the other hand it could also be okay and helpful in some situations such as if an intruder came into the classroom, the teacher could make sure the students are safe. If they are used as they should be then I believe it would be fine to have guns.
ReplyDeleteKatrina Ayala P.1
I think that there are many ups and downs to having a concealed gun on campus. ‘“There are pros and cons. There have been so many school shootings that by having the guns on campus someone might be able to stop an intruder,” she said. “Of course, there are other ways to stop intruders, too, without having the guns.”’ (Sacremento Bee) I agree with this statement. It might make some people safer but it could also put some in danger. Unless they have someone who is highly trained to have the gun it would not be of use at all. Instead it would be dangerous. I think that under certain circumstances it could help, but only by someone who is very trained.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Willis per.5
I think that having staff members present with firearms can be an interesting policy, but if an unfortunate event such as a school shooter ever arises it can save lives. Having the staff be prepared and ready for any type of event is important, even if that includes having firearms present as a concealed carry. The goal is utmost safety for our children and students, and we should strive for that goal in a realistic fashion. Having teachers "[feel] threatened in the past when the district laid off employees and knows of incidents involving angry people in the district office" (Lambert) is unacceptable and we should carry forward with both theirs and the students safety in mind.
ReplyDeleteLasse Nordahl
Period 6
I like the idea of having guns on campus-as long as they are in safe hands and the teachers have proper training. However, FCUSD needs to be careful that the guns don't become available to anyone other than the teachers. The article said that "police take 2-3 minutes to respond" so it is smart to have guns available in time to stop an intruder, or else it could be too late. I don't have a problem with the guns at school rule, because the article mentioned that the guns will be kept in lockboxes.
ReplyDeleteThis argument could go both ways if things turn bad at the school and the police have a time delay and somebody enters a classroom with a gun the teacher could protect himself and most importantly the students. Yet in the other case if a dangerous delinquent is aware of this, this could cause a problem and endanger the students instead of protect them.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, with how many shootings there have been in the past year, it's about time they allow SOMEONE to be armed on campus, instead of everyone dying helplessly while a maniac goes on a rampage. Sometimes it's necessary to fight fire with fire. If there had been an armed superintendent during the Sandy Hook shooting, so many innocent children and teachers would have been saved. Some students above mentioned that they think it's a bad idea because "students with an evil agenda could potentially get a hold of the guns," but that's a fairly unreasonable argument. "Under the district’s policy, holders of concealed-weapon permits can ask for approval to leave a gun on campus in single-weapon vaults that require a key and digital combination to open." With these safety measures in place, it's pretty farfetched to say that any student could simply "grab a gun and start shooting." In addition, some people also said they thought it was a bad idea to allow "untrained teachers" to have access to such powerful weapons. In the article it clearly states, "The Folsom Cordova Unified policy requires the concealed-weapon permit holder to work with an approved trainer and go through a personal interview with Bettencourt. Applicants also must carry their own personal liability insurance." Claiming that the gun carriers would be "untrained" is laughable, especially since they are being required to perform in front of a specialized trainer.
ReplyDeleteThe privilege of having guns at school has its pros and cons. Having weapons on campus could allow them to be able to protect themselves, and could make the campus for safe. Although having weapons on campus could provide a safe environment, the ability to have weapons could be extremely dangerous. There could be problems with unnecessary violence and the use of weapons becomes greater. "Allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available"(Bettencourt).
ReplyDeleteper 4
It's scary knowing such weapons are aloud to be on campus, a place with small children. It may worry kids and parents but it isn't all bad. Since school shootings have been a rising struggle, having an easy way to protect kids would be a very good ability. There's also the problem though of something going wrong and possibly hitting a child in the event the teacher tries to ward off the attacker. It's a very touchy subject with no real clear answer yet.
ReplyDeleteBecky Carmickle
Per. 4
I believe integrating guns into school districts in not smart. The risk that puts both the users and the students at is not worth the possibility of a school shooting. When the "Superintendent authorizes select staff members to bring guns with concealed-weapon permit," teachers will get suspicious of each other and not know who has a gun and who doesn't. This adds a whole layer of complexity that our school district does not need.
ReplyDeleteCameron Stone P6
After reading this article i think that some schools should be allowed to have guns at school for security reasons. As long as that person has been trained and knows what they are doing and the guns are kept locked up and protected then it should be OK for certain people.this should be monitored and watched carefully but if it saves the lives of children then i'm in for of some guns at school my trained personal.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe privilege of having guns at school could be good and bad. Students being able to protect themselves better with a weapon is a good thing, and would overall produce a safer campus. On the other hand, the ability to carry weapons could be extremely bad because the problem of unnecessary violence and use of weapons arises. With great power comes great responsibility, and the privilege of having guns on campus could either be good or really bad.
ReplyDeleteHaving guns at school could result in many bad choices. Especially with teenagers who don't really know who hey are and emotionally unstable. The following quote explains further, "police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes help readily available" (Sacramento Bee).
ReplyDeleteI think this idea of being able to have a gun on campus is a totally bad thing there is no good way this can end up. Yes students can use it to protect themselves but from what they are just students around them they don't need a gun. If someone were to pull a gun out at school how do you know when they are kidding or serious. If they were serious it takes only seconds to kill a student so why would you want your child going to school on a campus like that. "Police officers need two to three minutes to respond to a school, and that allowing qualified gun owners to keep weapons on campus makes readily available"(Sacramento Bee). Now that quote is saying that the kids might actually help the officers but they don't know what there doing. Do they even know how to handle a gun?
ReplyDeleteI can see the pros and cons in this situation and why people are praising it and why others hate it. The thought behind it is great, which is protecting the students from a future attack. AS the article states,"Bettencourt said she has worked with local law enforcement to implement a security program that includes allowing trained employees she approves to keep firearms at work in a locked gun vault near their work area." This plan of Bettencourt's is a good one but I think that teenagers will get to curious and something bad will end up happening in the future.
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