Arm Our Kids Now - And Response

  • Tuesday, February 20, 2018

RE:  Roy Exum: Arm Our Teachers Now

I am writing in response to Roy Exum's editorial. I have heard this opinion before and always wondered if it is going far enough. Some people think one or two adults should be armed in each school, or even all teachers, as does Roy. 

I think all the students should be armed. It takes too long for one or two armed adults to get to the shooter's location. With an assault rifle, a shooter could kill a dozen kids in that amount of time. If each child could carry, that child has a chance to get off a few shots before being killed himself or one or more classmates being hit. I imagine each child should have a little holster, too, so he or she would be prepared at the first sign of trouble. 

The more guns the better, 

Robin Tauer 

* * *

I have heard this argument that one writer submitted suggesting that we arm kids. Actually let's take the absurdity of such an argument to its ultimate conclusion and further the NRA would love it as the gun manufacturers would have another market for their weapons. 

When I was a kid one of the most fun activities was what we called simply guns.  We would pretend with our Roy Rogers 6 guns, complete with cheap holsters, to be cowboys rounding up bandits and cattle rustlers.  Now the extent of our firearms were caps that went bang when we pulled the trigger. Now, think of this market as the absurdity to the writer's suggestion that we arm kids.  Why not, say I, teach 5-year-olds how to shoot and by the time they were in high school they would be proficient on the AR-15 and be allowed to pack along with lunch and homework in their backpacks.  

The gun "crazies" in this country have gone way over any suggestion that might save lives. They have, instead, advocated for more guns and more ammo and more people killed. Let's face it, those that have some understanding of weapons and their dangers. If we arm the population thinking that somehow all would well we need to take a look back at what is the gun culture in this country. We arm everyone and assume they can shoot and can shoot accurately and they have enough common sense to know that firing in a crowded environment like the classroom would kill innocents and not necessarily the perpetrator with the AR-15.

I am a vet and qualified on many weapons. I was also a hunter trained by the NRA in proper gun handling. That NRA has been replaced by a corporation that keeps our elected officials well kept with money and support and when practical suggestions come up and they do the NRA and all its followers just repeat the gospel according to the NRA. We could do better if only.

Robert Brooks

Opinion
A Disgrace
  • 4/17/2024

Republicans followed the Constitution, accepting articles for trials submitted by Democrats for two impeachments of Donald Trump. That can’t be said in the impeachment of a man who took an ... more

There Should Be No Threats Against VW Workers
  • 4/17/2024

The essential right of Volkswagen Chattanooga employees to freely engage in collective bargaining must be free of threats, intimidation, harassment and coercion in all its ugliest forms. We stand ... more

Ready To Restore The Field In Red Bank
  • 4/17/2024

On behalf of Trust For Public Land and our many community partners, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Mayor Barry and the city of Red Bank for their commitment to the stewardship of ... more