A Texas school district this week approved a proposal to allow teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus.
The board for the Keller Independent School District (ISD) voted 4-3 to adopt the state’s “guardian program,” which is designed to harden schools against potential threats.
School board president Dr. Charles Randklev spoke about the need to have trained citizen responders on-hand to both deter and confront would-be killers.
“The guardian program is meant to help students and staff from an active shooter prior to law enforcements arrival,” Randklev told WFAA.
Per the program, designated teachers and staff members would need to complete various firearms training and safety courses before being allowed to carry concealed handguns on school grounds.
SEE ALSO: Another Iowa School District Allows Staff to Carry Guns on Campus
During a public hearing on the issue, parents from both sides of the gun divide weighed in.
“I do not want this program, period,” said Dixie Davis, whose children were scheduled to attend the Keller ISD in the future.
“There is no way I would feel safe sending my kid to school knowing a teacher is packing, no matter how well-trained,” she added. “Why haven’t we seen details about how this program works?”
Amber Fox, another parent, reasoned that some resistance is better than no resistance.
“I would rather my kids’ teacher have a handgun than nothing,” Fox explained. “The horror of Uvalde that kids were sitting in a classroom as a monster came in to shoot them…”
SEE ALSO: Police at Texas Tech Praise Campus Carry: ‘No Longer a Target of Opportunity’ for Mass Killers
Though the board approved the guardian program, details have yet to be worked out, according to Keller ISD Superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall.
Westfall told WFAA that the board will reconvene early next year to build out the framework.
While school shootings are statistically rare events and less common than they were in the ’90s, any policy that puts armed responders on site to help stop active killers has the potential to save lives.
In fact, armed citizens thwarted 34.4% of active shooter incidents from 2014-2021, according to data gathered by the nonprofit Crime Research Prevention Center.
Campus carry shouldn’t be controversial.
Good guys with guns are entrusted to protect bankers, billionaires, pro athletes, and politicians every day in this country, no reason why they shouldn’t protect school children as well.
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Mr Blannelberg
You have written what I thought was the most sensible paper on gun control and I can’t find it anywhere.
Can you tell me where I can find your work.
Thanks.
George
In response to Dixie Davis’ comment as to why she hasn’t seen any data on the effectiveness of armed faculty and staff I believe there could be nothing as confirming as the fact there have been absolutely zero attempts in the schools that have taken these initiatives.
Good for the Keller School District! Our Texas school district has already implemented the Guardian program!