Right to self defense

In last week’s editorials, Sal Giarrantani of Boston, Massachusetts, wrote that police are now trained to act quickly in response to school shooting. Sal implied that this new training protects schools. Sal goes on to write that guns carried by administrators and teachers are a “quick fix” and that the results of such a policy are unknown. Sal finished by insinuating that guns at school will intimidate students.

In a school shooting incident, who has the most to lose? It is the defenseless. How long do you think it reasonable to wait for the police to save your life? If the police show up a second too late and you are killed, who is responsible? You are. The police have no liability. Placing our confidence in others who have no consequence for failure in their duties is gambling with your life.

As individuals, we are responsible for our own life, liberty, and property not the government. A reader of BryanMartin.com commented online that during field based training to become a teacher, she was required to cower under a desk with the lights off as a strange man walked around campus for 30 minutes. Can you imagine the fear of those students and teachers? Trauma such as this is only conditioning kids to be fearful victims.

Police may have some more training but that cannot guarantee your life. As far as Sal calling this a “quick fix,” self defense is recognized in the Bible (Luke 22:36, Exodus 22:2-3) and probably dates back even further. Sal’s argument that we do not know the consequences of taking self defense measures is not a valid point. It is a FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) argument that has no real merit. We know that you could defend yourself from an attacker by having a gun. Whether or not you are successful is open, but at least you have a fighting chance. As for Sal’s final insinuation that guns will disrupt the classroom, I have heard many stories from those growing up in the 50s and 60s about children bringing guns to school and showing off their new rifle to teachers and students without any disruption. I know that a respectful climate for gun carrying can be created.

Again, talk to your school board about implementing a gun policy like Harrold ISD. It is imperative that we protect ourselves and this country’s future leaders.