[Crimson Dynamo]

It takes around 8 minutes for first responders to arrive after being alerted


8 minutes is an awful lot of dead children

[jaxie]

They have to stop selling guns like candy and limit guns sales. No member of the public needs an automatic or semi automatic.

Arming teachers is a stupid idea but let's be honest the lack of gun control in the US is about the power and money of the NRA. They dish out cash and are allowed far to much influence.

People with mental health issues isn't their problem either. It's mental people getting easy access to guns that is their problem.

http://www.dailyherald.com/news/2018...peoples-hearts

[Oliver_W]

Maybe not every teacher should carry a firearm, but allowing someone on the premises the means to defend themselves isn't the worst idea.

[waterhog]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ix-gun-problem

His answer to cries of survivors of repeated gun attacks in schools and the parents of the deceased is to give more guns.

How is this mad man still in the presidential role?

the tide is turning and the usa people are seeing change - it is the start and this is going to be a one more regret interview for the trump

[Jessica.]

I just watched a news report about this and even the presenters were uncomfortable. He actually said it in front of the survivors of mass shootings and parents who lost their children. It was disgusting. He also explained what concealed carry was, as if he was speaking to complete morons. It's disgusting what some people will do for money.

[lewis111]

I agree with Jessica - what he said infront of the survivors and victim's families made me extremely uncomfortable. Even if he knew he wasn't going to do exactly what they wanted he should've just comforted them and assured them things were going to be ok and get better - instead he made them more worried and angry

He has no heart or compassion for anyone, which is quite scary

[Livia]

We all know the answer to the firearms problem in the USA is not to have more guns. Trump's between a rock and a hard place... Oppose the NRA and lose support among his core voters, or side with the NRA, keep all the funding and the kickbacks and lose the trust of the rest of the USA. This is probably the dodgiest place he's been since he took up office, and let's face it, that's a pretty strong field.

[Amy Jade]

Originally Posted by Livia

We all know the answer to the firearms problem in the USA is not to have more guns. Trump's between a rock and a hard place... Oppose the NRA and lose support among his core voters, or side with the NRA, keep all the funding and the kickbacks and lose the trust of the rest of the USA. This is probably the dodgiest place he's been since he took up office, and let's face it, that's a pretty strong field.

Personally I would risk losing office and put the safety of others, including young children, first.

I understand guns are a big thing in America, I have been to Texas and saw people walking around supermarkets carrying guns but the laws need changing BADLY. I saw something on TV the other day and a 14 year old was refused alcohol, cigatettes and even scratch cards but allowed to buy a gun without a problem, that is insane to me. I don't believe arming teachers is the answer at all.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

Personally I would risk losing office and put the safety of others, including young children, first.

I understand guns are a big thing in America, I have been to Texas and saw people walking around supermarkets carrying guns but the laws need changing BADLY. I saw something on TV the other day and a 14 year old was refused alcohol, cigatettes and even scratch cards but allowed to buy a gun without a problem, that is insane to me. I don't believe arming teachers is the answer at all.

Oh yes, me too... but it's not hard to predict which way Trump will jump.

You can buy a gun at 18, you can't drink alcohol until you're 21. And I can't see what anyone wants with an automatic or semi automatic weapon unless you're up to no good or prone to showing off... and the Darwin Awards are packed with people showing off...

[bots]

Honestly, if they want to stop mass killings at schools etc having armed teachers or police/guards is the only realistic solution. We may say WTF over here, but banning guns wont solve anything in the USA, arming people that can protect the kids will

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Honestly, if they want to stop mass killings at schools etc having armed teachers or police/guards is the only realistic solution. We may say WTF over here, but banning guns wont solve anything in the USA, arming people that can protect the kids will

It worked in Australia

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

It worked in Australia

Australia has 20 million people and is nothing at all like the USA in make-up history, politically or geograpically

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Australia has 20 million people and is nothing at all like the USA in make-up history, politically or geograpically

Similarities are they had a gun problem, they banned guns and sorted it.

[jet]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Similarities are they had a gun problem, they banned guns and sorted it.

I agree, ban guns and to hell with the gun lobbyists. No - one needs a gun to protect themselves if nobody else has a gun.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Honestly, if they want to stop mass killings at schools etc having armed teachers or police/guards is the only realistic solution. We may say WTF over here, but banning guns wont solve anything in the USA, arming people that can protect the kids will

I sort of agree with this, I think it's too late for gun controls to curb school violence, because it's become a cultural phenomenon sadly. That is to say... at this point, the reason the US has a crazy number of school shootings, is that the US has a crazy number of school shootings. They need to tighten up their gun laws anyway, that's a given, but in terms of school violence... I think sadly, the kids who want to commit these acts would find other ways. It's become a deep rooted social psychology problem amoungst American teens. There are also so many illegal / unregistered weapons in the US already, that I think it would take decades from the point of a ban for it to be actually "difficult" to obtain one, especially with access to the darkweb etc.

That said, an outright ban on high powered / rapid firing weapons could in theory at least limit the number of casualties in each incident over time.

I sort of agree that in the short term, it seems like there needs to be solutions IN schools though. Though I would never advocate arming teachers / having guns IN the classroom. I mean honestly... teachers snap and hit kids sometimes... how long before a teacher with psychological problems flips under pressure and ends up shooting a pupil? Imagine the issues that would end up causing. Imagine then sending your kids to school knowing that their teacher is armed :/. It's not an environment that encourages learning, at all. So personally, my two solutions would be:

1) An armed security guard in the school, with their own secure office (otherwise they're just going to be the first one shot). More than one for larger schools maybe.

2) Secure doors on every classroom that deadbolt from the inside. This would surely limit casualties MASSIVELY if it was as-standard? As soon as a shot is fired, teacher deadbolts the classroom door, and no one is getting in.

[Livia]

MY fiance is from Texas, as some of you know... He doesn't think that the gun laws will ever be changed because it would be a virtually impossible task, and even if it was possible, would probably cause civil unrest. Arming teachers and bolting doors will teach everyone that the state cannot protect you from the bad guys, so you'll have to live in a state of lock-down. What a sad state of affairs...

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

MY fiance is from Texas, as some of you know... He doesn't think that the gun laws will ever be changed because it would be a virtually impossible task, and even if it was possible, would probably cause civil unrest. Arming teachers and bolting doors will teach everyone that the state cannot protect you from the bad guys, so you'll have to live in a state of lock-down. What a sad state of affairs...

It seems to be going that way already though... a lot of states do these "armed attack drills", where they sound an alarm and everyone has "roles" assigned like where they're supposed to go and designated people to barricade doors. I mean WTF is that?? How utterly terrifying to have that as part of what constitutes a normal school routine. What a messed up learning environment .

I read a story earlier, some mum on facebook being "so proud" of her son because he had volunteered to be one of those who barricades the door at school, saying that "He would rather get killed saving his friends than live knowing that any of them had died". Which is a great attitude to have, and technically yes something to be proud of... except that a ten year old kid shouldn't even be having to think about those sorts of things!

[Tom4784]

The answer to America's mass shooting problem is not to throw more guns at it. If this came into effect how long would it be until it's a teacher that goes on a rampage?

It's simple really, ban assault rifles (No practical purpose other than to kill other people) and make the background and mental health checks more than just a formality they are now in states like Florida.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

The answer to America's mass shooting problem is not to throw more guns at it. If this came into effect how long would it be until it's a teacher that goes on a rampage?

Well yeah that was my thinking. Teachers sometimes will snap and punch a kid. Teachers sometimes abuse their pupils. How long before a teacher ends up shooting someone? And even without it going that far, I can DEFINITELY see teachers using the fact that they have a gun in their desk as an empty, yet still terrifying, threat.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Well yeah that was my thinking. Teachers sometimes will snap and punch a kid. Teachers sometimes abuse their pupils. How long before a teacher ends up shooting someone? And even without it going that far, I can DEFINITELY see teachers using the fact that they have a gun in their desk as an empty, yet still terrifying, threat.

Yeah, it's an insane thing to do really, all these pro gun people are wrapping themselves in knots offering up silly suggestions to take gun control off the table when proper gun control laws would not affect responsible owners anyway.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Yeah, it's an insane thing to do really, all these pro gun people are wrapping themselves in knots offering up silly suggestions to take gun control off the table when proper gun control laws would not affect responsible owners anyway.

I think the argument is they wouldn't affect irresponsible owners anyway, with black market purchases...

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I think the argument is they wouldn't affect irresponsible owners anyway, with black market purchases...

Which aren't all that common as they are made out to be, remember that almost all of these mass shootings are committed legally owned guns. Make it harder for the wrong people to buy guns and these Mass Shootings would stop happening because buying something off the Black Market isn't like popping into Asda for a loaf of bread, if you don't have the knowledge or the connections then you don't have the access to it.

The UK has an illegal gun trade but that doesn't mean we should take back gun laws and give everyone access to one just in case.

[Crimson Dynamo]

If the pupils thought that the teacher was packing heat they may behave better

not me though, Id pack my own gun in my bag in case the teacher went rogue

or if people were bothering me

[Crimson Dynamo]

Go look at my thread about buying a semi auto rifle on facebook no questions asked

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Go look at my thread about buying a semi auto rifle on facebook no questions asked

Regardless of that, it's not an argument to have them so readily available to anyone legally