Florida lawmakers pass bill allowing more armed teachers

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Florida lawmakers pass bill allowing more armed teachers

By CURT ANDERSON
May 1, 2019

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — More Florida classroom teachers could carry guns in school under a bill passed Wednesday by state lawmakers, the latest response to last year’s mass shooting at a Parkland high school.

The Republican-led House voted 65-47 on Wednesday to send the bill to GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it. The measure expands an existing school “guardian” program to allow any teacher to volunteer to carry a weapon if their local school district approves.

“It allows the good guys to stop the bad. The bad guys will never know when the good guys are there to shoot back,” said Republican Rep. Chuck Brannan of Lake City, a retired law enforcement officer. “The guardian is the last line of defense. He or she will be there when a police officer is not.”

Teachers who want to carry guns in districts that choose to join the program would have to undergo police-style training, psychiatric evaluation and drug screening. Under a law passed last year immediately after the Parkland shooting, only teachers who also have another role, such as sports coach, are eligible to carry weapons on campus.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/9f9a137e07b3420b876717e0865967b3

[Turbineguy]

1. Yes. The reason

many kids graduate is too few guns.

[BigmanPigman]

2. Florida, what is your fucking problem?

It is always Florida for some reason. Is there something in the water?

This teacher would never ever consider living there, let alone teaching there. I bet parent-teacher conferences are a real ball.

[gejohnston]

3. wake me up when there is a

rational and logical argument against it, outside the fact that more kids are killed playing football each year than shot on average.

[Aussie105]

4. I can see this going wrong in so many different ways . . .

Now Billy, naughty of you to sneak into my office, but you must really put my gun down!

OR

Yeah, kid? Wanna piece of me? I'm carrying, you know!

etc.

But seriously. What does this teach kids? That you aren't safe unless you are packing a weapon? Setting a good example? How many kids want to 'borrow' dad's gun for school, just to be safe? Or settle old grudges?

[Straw Man]

6. Do tell.

Now Billy, naughty of you to sneak into my office, but you must really put my gun down!

No one in his/her right mind should leave a firearm accessible to children. Off-body carry (purses, etc.) needs to be explicitly forbidden in this statute.

Yeah, kid? Wanna piece of me? I'm carrying, you know!

Any teacher who threatens a child with violence, with or without a firearm, is subject to disciplinary action potentially leading to removal from the classroom. This is as it should be.

But seriously. What does this teach kids? That you aren't safe unless you are packing a weapon?

It teaches them that a firearm is better protection against an armed assailant than a fire extinguisher, potted plant, or tape dispenser would be.

You speak as though children of today are unaware of the existence and capabilities of firearms. If anything, the presence of same on the belts of police officers nationwide has already taught them these lessons.

[nitpicker]

5. From DW

https://www.dw.com/en/florida-lawmakers-approve-arming-teachers-with-guns-in-classrooms/a-48567628

(snip)
Opponents argue guns don't belong in the classroom and point to the danger that armed teachers may accidentally fire their weapon or police could mistakenly take a teacher for an assailant during a crisis. Teachers unions were against the bill, and school boards in some of the most populous counties in the state have voted against joining the guardian program.
(snip

[gejohnston]

7. The problem is that none of the opponents arguments

are based on facts or logic. According to the FBI, armed citizens are 94 percent effective against attackers. Armed citizens are often better trained, and trains regularly, than police.

police could mistakenly take a teacher for an assailant during a crisis.

Not really a valid argument either. Mass casualty events are usually over in less than five minutes. It takes an average of six minutes before the cops show up, assuming they show up or don't stand around outside with their fingers up their asses, like Broward County, while the attacker is stuffing his face at a Subway three blocks away.

[Hangingon]

8. Teachers are closest if/when a shooting situation starts,but...

I favor trained armed guards in the school. (See them here every time I mentor and kids really don’t pay much attention to them.)

It seems to me that there is a lot to consider in arming teachers. Just saying bring your gun isn’t the answer. You will get everything from .22 derringers to S&W long barrel .44 magnums. Same with ammo. Then there is the issue of training - both range and tactics. These have to be kept current. How are weapons carried? Stored? In the event of a shooting situation, what do teachers do? How will Leo’s recognize them? This just scratches the surface.

Does this law look at any of these?

[gejohnston]

9. Teachers and staff would be targets as well,

Problem is that private guards and urban cops are not anywhere as well trained as the average redneck that learned from their parents, or what I taught first time hunters. Also, anyone can time their attack based on what uniformed guards do.

It seems to me that there is a lot to consider in arming teachers. Just saying bring your gun isn’t the answer.

Why not? That is what some states allow. IIRC, Utah allows CCW holders carry in class. If they are safe and responsible at Wal Mart, why not anywhere else? Also, defensive gun use doesn't require SWAT training (even though there are nine year old girls that wipes the floor with SWAT cops in competition)

You will get everything from .22 derringers to S&W long barrel .44 magnums. Same with ammo.

CCW holders in general generally carry similar weapons. None of them carry such things.

Then there is the issue of training - both range and tactics. These have to be kept current.

Training is a good thing, I know people who go to Gunsite on the regular basis. Wouldn't the tactics be the same as a home invasion? Many teachers my kids had were combat veterans.

How are weapons carried? Stored?

Concealed on their person. The idea is that no one has a clue who is or isn't, or if anyone is or isn't.

In the event of a shooting situation, what do teachers do?

Return fire. Basically, as the defender against an attacker with zero skill and likely to flee or self destruct when resisted, based on past history, just like a homeowner in a home invasion.

How will Leo’s recognize them?

Cops usually show up after its over. Person with holstered pistol and hands up is staff, guy in tacticool outfit bleeding on the floor is the attacker.

That is how it would work in Utah and some other states. Some schools in Missouri have staff trained by firearms trainers with programs geared for school. By the time they graduate, these teachers are better shots than any cop.

If it were me, I would have non teaching staff go through the program and armed with specific pistol and ammo combo. Teachers would be locked down, but still be allowed to carry, if they have CCW, in case the classroom door is breeched because self defense is a fundamental natural and human right that the State has no business infringing on just like speech and privacy.
But then, the current moral panic not withstanding, the odds of being shot at school is one in 614 million. Given the number of kids that die of brain injury or broken neck playing high school football each year, you would save more lives by ending the sport and giving the money to the school newspaper or photography club.

To answer your last question, I have no idea how the Florida law works. Given the state's bipartisan stupidity and corruption, I'm not counting on it being well done.