 |
|
 |
|
Costs
Here are some thoughts on how to reduce costs.
1. There are two basic costs involved with making a school safe from insane murders and terrorists. One is the cost of the equipment: weapons, lock boxes, holsters, vests, arm bands, ammunition, etc. depending on how weapons are stored or carried in the school, cleaning kits, and other material items. The second is the cost of man-hours expended by employees during their weapons-related in-service training, which may include range fees, targets, and instructor fees.
2. The lock box method of storing the weapons (discussed in Safe Schools Now)will be more expensive than concealed carry by personnel due to the cost of the boxes and their permanent installation. Choices will vary that cost. For example, will key or combination locks be used, and if combination, will they be digital touch access, mechanical touch access, or a simple combination padlock? Some digital lock boxes may even require batteries that must be maintained.
3. Concealed carry will generally be less expensive for the school district, since obtaining a concealed carry permit, training, and ownership of a weapon can be made prerequisites to employment. In that case, the school system will only need to provide in-service training, periodic range training, and school defense tactical training with police and/or other self-defense experts.
It is quite possible that there will be local NRA certified instructors who will volunteer help with training school staff.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Weapon Carry Options
for Teachers and Staff
For teachers and school staff who want to understand all of their options, consider the following.
Weapons can be stored in lockboxes (safes) or carried by qualified, trained personnel. The book Safe Schools Now discusses the pros and cons of these two methods. Because there are some major flaws with the lockbox method of storing weapons in the classroom, the author recommends concealed carry as the superior method. (For a quick example why storing a weapon in a lock box in the classroom does not allow fast enough access, read imagine this.)
Carrying a concealed weapon and finding the right holster can be challenging. There are many types of holsters available and it may be necessary to own several that work with many different clothing options. Carrying in your purse is not a good idea in a school, since the weapon must be under your control at all times. Plan to wear it in and wear it back out of the school facility each day.
Watch the following videos for a good look at what is available.
 |
|
 |
|
Video
Handcrafted for you, in the USA.
|
|
 |
|
 |
 What is the probability that a murderer will read and obey this sign?
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Weapons
Whether lock boxes or concealed carry are used, weapons should be those that each individual is comfortable with shooting. Teachers using concealed carry will naturally gravitate to their weapon of choice, perhaps by trying many different types. Most shooting ranges have loaners for this purpose. Likewise, holsters are important. The goal is to find one that gives you freedom of movement, allows for concealed carry, and which is so comfortable that you will forget you are wearing it while teaching.
The storage of weapons in lock boxes is more complicated than concealed carry, especially if the school system must supply the weapons. For example, when a teacher leaves the school for other employment, or when new teachers are hired, the weapons assigned to a particular lock box will change depending on each teacher’s personal preference. Moving weapons to support teacher preferences could create additional ongoing expenses, such as leading to “orphaned” weapons that none of the present teachers want to use. Such weapons would have to be stored in a school system armory and offered to new employees as they are hired in.
As for caliber and magazine capacity, it is probably a good idea to see what the local police department and state patrol are using, and to work with NRA certified instructors to assure that weapons in the school are of adequate firepower to the task.
Another issue facing school systems wishing to arm the school staff is how much ammunition is to be stored in the lock box or carried by the teacher. The school system will need to consult experts in firearms self-defense to answer this question. The point is not to supply an ongoing, long, drawn-out firefight, but stop a killer(s) quickly or hold them at bay long enough to protect the children.
It should obvious that the staff of a safe school will probably not be able to completely stop a large group of terrorists armed with automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenades, and protected by bullet-proof vests. However, they will provide a strong deterrent effect, and will be able to save lives and help many of the children get out of the school alive. Arming teachers is not about stopping a dedicated army, but about making our schools safe from the types of child murderers we have historically seen attack staff and children in schools around the world.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
