Texas Town okays Teachers PACKING HEAT!

Junkenpo · Aug 17th, 2008, 04:46 PM

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5587421&page=1

Texas Town OKs Teachers Packing Heat
Texas School District Becomes First in Nation to Allow Teachers to Carry Guns

HARROLD, Texas -- Aug. 15, 2008

A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes begin later this month, a newspaper reported.

Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements.

In order for teachers and staff to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorized to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations and have to use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.

Superintendent David Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff's office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district's lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target.
"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog," Thweatt said in Friday's online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Thweatt said officials researched the policy and considered other options for about a year before approving the policy change. He said the district also has various other security measures in place to prevent a school shooting.
"The naysayers think (a shooting) won't happen here. If something were to happen here, I'd much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them," Thweatt said.

Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution."

It was unclear how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall because Thweatt did not disclose that information, to keep it from students or potential attackers. Wilbarger County Sheriff Larry Lee was out of the office Thursday and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, the newspaper said.

Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization did not know of another district with such a policy. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, including in Texas, said Harrold is the first district with such a policy.
The 110-student district is 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth on the eastern end of Wilbarger County, near the Oklahoma border.

Junkenpo · Aug 17th, 2008, 04:50 PM

Gotta love Texas....

exotikittenx · Aug 17th, 2008, 05:33 PM

OMG! As a teacher myself, way to set an example to students! I'm not going to get into it, but I just don't understand some of these states' laws...

ShimmaPuff · Aug 17th, 2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkenpo

...to deter and protect against school shootings...

candace117 · Aug 17th, 2008, 08:02 PM

Guns don't kill people, people kill people...

tanukiki · Aug 17th, 2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkenpo

Gotta love Texas....

Hey now. That's a little rude don;t you think? It's one little town in TX not the whole state.

BasketballCourt · Aug 17th, 2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candace117

Guns don't kill people, people kill people...

Yep.

LV-PRADAfanatic · Aug 18th, 2008, 04:00 AM

yes people kill people...

corrina · Aug 18th, 2008, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candace117

Guns don't kill people, people kill people...

Couldn't have said it better!

EmilyPurk · Aug 18th, 2008, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candace117

Guns don't kill people, people kill people...

Agreed.

emmalawyer · Aug 18th, 2008, 11:03 AM

This'll all be hunky dory until some kid gets shot by mistake or an accident happens (and it will!) and there's injury to staff or students.

When the school district gets sued into oblivion, this unfortunate idea will get canned in no time at all.

Too bad someone's got to get shot before the nonsense stops!

Junkenpo · Aug 18th, 2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanukiki

Hey now. That's a little rude don;t you think? It's one little town in TX not the whole state.

awww, hugs!

I don't really believe that a 110 student district is really representative of the entire state! Perhaps I should've used a smiley (maybe this one

) to indicate that.

I can relate to how it is to have people misunderstand at an entire state. Cokie Roberts just accused us of being "foreign" and "exotic".

hahaha!

pinki682 · Aug 19th, 2008, 02:26 AM

They were not thinking when they passed this initiative.

AudreyII · Aug 19th, 2008, 07:35 AM

It's hard not to just roll my eyes and think, only in Texas, it gets such a bad press...
At what age can you carry a concealed weapon in Texas, will the pupils be allowed them next for protection from the teachers?

As Goldie Lookin Chain put it

Guns don't kill people, rappers do

MissTiss · Aug 19th, 2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candace117

Guns don't kill people, people kill people...

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Aug 17th, 2008, 04:46 PM	#1
Junkenpo Boom, baby! Location: 2500 miles from any continental landmass	Texas Town okays Teachers PACKING HEAT! http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5587421&page=1 Texas Town OKs Teachers Packing Heat Texas School District Becomes First in Nation to Allow Teachers to Carry Guns HARROLD, Texas -- Aug. 15, 2008 A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes begin later this month, a newspaper reported. Trustees at the Harrold Independent School District approved a district policy change last October so employees can carry concealed firearms to deter and protect against school shootings, provided the gun-toting teachers follow certain requirements. In order for teachers and staff to carry a pistol, they must have a Texas license to carry a concealed handgun; must be authorized to carry by the district; must receive training in crisis management and hostile situations and have to use ammunition that is designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls. Superintendent David Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff's office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district's lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target. "When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog," Thweatt said in Friday's online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Thweatt said officials researched the policy and considered other options for about a year before approving the policy change. He said the district also has various other security measures in place to prevent a school shooting. "The naysayers think (a shooting) won't happen here. If something were to happen here, I'd much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them," Thweatt said. Texas law outlaws firearms on school campuses "unless pursuant to the written regulations or written authorization of the institution." It was unclear how many of the 50 or so teachers and staff members will be armed this fall because Thweatt did not disclose that information, to keep it from students or potential attackers. Wilbarger County Sheriff Larry Lee was out of the office Thursday and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, the newspaper said. Barbara Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of School Boards, said her organization did not know of another district with such a policy. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school security expert who advises districts nationwide, including in Texas, said Harrold is the first district with such a policy. The 110-student district is 150 miles northwest of Fort Worth on the eastern end of Wilbarger County, near the Oklahoma border. __________________ Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled-- Fyodor Dostoyevsky] PONDERING: Damier Pochette Melville, mini pochette, Naviglio; Ivoire Epi Alma; Amarante cles or keyholder...

Aug 17th, 2008, 04:50 PM	#2
Junkenpo Boom, baby! Location: 2500 miles from any continental landmass	Gotta love Texas.... __________________ Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled-- Fyodor Dostoyevsky] PONDERING: Damier Pochette Melville, mini pochette, Naviglio; Ivoire Epi Alma; Amarante cles or keyholder...

Aug 17th, 2008, 05:33 PM	#3
exotikittenx Ooh la la! Location: The City of Plain 'n Proper	OMG! As a teacher myself, way to set an example to students! I'm not going to get into it, but I just don't understand some of these states' laws... __________________ Please check out my collection! Click here.

Aug 17th, 2008, 08:02 PM	#5
candace117 Pirate Trash Location: Hardcorvallis	Guns don't kill people, people kill people... __________________ "With so much drama in the L-B-C, it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double G."

Aug 18th, 2008, 04:00 AM	#8
LV-PRADAfanatic Built Hot for LV Location: That's ME ^_^	yes people kill people... __________________ All so LoVely, so little time to get them all

Aug 18th, 2008, 11:03 AM	#11
emmalawyer BLITHERING FOOL Location: with the teething twins!	This'll all be hunky dory until some kid gets shot by mistake or an accident happens (and it will!) and there's injury to staff or students. When the school district gets sued into oblivion, this unfortunate idea will get canned in no time at all. Too bad someone's got to get shot before the nonsense stops! __________________ signature too large “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” --Dr. Seuss ( lil Bitsy's favorite bedtime reading)

Aug 19th, 2008, 02:26 AM	#13
pinki682 Member	They were not thinking when they passed this initiative. Last edited by pinki682; Aug 19th, 2008 at 02:42 AM.

Aug 19th, 2008, 07:35 AM	#14
AudreyII Quite contrary Location: Stoneybridge	It's hard not to just roll my eyes and think, only in Texas, it gets such a bad press... At what age can you carry a concealed weapon in Texas, will the pupils be allowed them next for protection from the teachers? As Goldie Lookin Chain put it Guns don't kill people, rappers do __________________ My collection Oooooh, I love a bit of cake Just don't stare at it, eat it. Insanity runs in my family, it practically gallops!