Letters to the Editor
More, not less, guns in school
Dear Editor:
As a substitute teacher in the Inyo County School District I would like to address the recent controversy over allowing guns in our schools. In no particular order, I am a gun owner (.22 rifle), teacher (substitute), and father of baby girl (2 years) who I hope will one day attend one of our venerated schools. I would welcome the esteemed board’s decision to allow not only concealed weapons but also open carry of firearms on campus for everyone including teachers and even students who have demonstrated firearm safety.
With a concealed firearm at my side I would no doubt command the respect I deserve as a substitute teacher. I don’t need to tell you that the children of this country unduly take advantage of teachers and substitutes alike. They will seek and destroy a teacher’s weakness like a 30 ought 6 from 300 yards. Being able to carry a gun while I teach these miscreants the Common Core would go a long way to earning their respect and the respect of the gun-carrying community.
Let me give you some real-world, classroom examples. Some win/win scenarios of how guns in our local schools could benefit all of us, even roofing contractors.
Let me explain: Say I’m trying to quiet the kiddies down after recess. Instead of counting down from five or saying “hocus Pocus, let’s all focus,” I will instead have the authority, granted by this esteemed school board, to shoot my firearm into the ceiling as a warning shot. Of course I’ll only do this if my nerves are frayed.
This will not only get their full, undivided attention, but it will also create an economic boon for fully bonded roofers in this land of little rain where a roof can last a lifetime.
And if parents are allowed to bring guns to schools then it’s only fair that teachers should be armed as well. Teachers will be less intimidated to tell pubescent Pauli’s pistol-packing parents that he does mostly third-grade work when he should be in sixth-grade. Because as long as you can flash your 45 caliber “make-my-day edition” as you sit down for a serious, but friendly chat, you will have the confidence to be honest with them without fear of a hastily executed deadly-force reprisal.
Not to say I’m against parents bringing small caliber weapons to their children’s school instead of a 45. I wholly agree with Board Member Tina Orill, who Sierra Wave Media reported, saying, “…she (Orill) was concerned about the inconvenience for parents with concealed weapon permits having to leave their weapons at home when they dropped their kids off at school. Orill said, “I’m not ready to make an informed decision.”
“Inconvenience.” Totally get it. That reason alone is enough to make an informed decision. As a teacher, I am often late to class in the morning because I forgot to unholster my pistol before leaving for school.
Another school board trustee was also quoted in the article, saying, “school staff should not carry weapons on campus, but the properly permitted public could.”
Hold on there. As a teacher and gun owner I take generous issue with this. Not only is it unfair, but I would like him to point out one example where a teacher had a pen and the gut-toting parents had a sword. Does the pen win? No. Does the sword? No.
The gun wins.
