Texas teachers could be armed with guns themselves following Friday’s stunning Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The state’s governor, Rick Perry, has expressed support – at least for allowing districts to determine whether their teachers can carry concealed weapons. It has also been reported that one Texas district already permits teachers to pack concealed handguns in class; Perry says he is open to expanding the idea. Perry told the NE Tarrant County Tea Party on Monday evening: “In the state of Texas, if you go through the process, have been trained, and you are a handgun-licensed individual, you should be able to carry a gun anywhere in the state.” In addition, Virginia Gov. McDonnell said Tuesday, “I know there’s been a knee-jerk reaction against that [but] I think there should at least be a discussion of that.” “If people were armed, not just a police officer but other school officials … certainly there would be an opportunity to stop aggressors coming into the schools.” “So I think that’s a reasonable discussion that ought to be had,” he added. Virginia and Colorado have already seen gun sales spike this week. In the Harrold Independent School District in Texas, a policy was already implemented in 2007 that allows teachers to carry concealed handguns in schools. Harrold superintendent, David Thweatt, has said “We’re a rural community. We’re in a county about a little smaller than the state of Rhode of island.” “We’re 30 minutes from law enforcement. Thirty minutes is an extremely long time.” In Connecticut last week, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his mother dead, then drove to the nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. He broke his way in before murdering 20 children as well as six adults in the school. After the slaughter, Lanza turned the gun on himself and shot himself dead. It was one of the worst high school massacre shootings in United States history and has sparked a wide debate on gun control and regulations in America. What do you think: Should teachers be allowed to carry guns? Yes, it could actually prevent violence! No, that would be utter insanity … View Poll »
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Texas Teachers With Guns? Rick Perry Expresses Support in CT Shooting Aftermath
