Most Marylanders Oppose Arming Teachers In School: Patch Survey

MARYLAND — As school shootings become more frequent in number, lawmakers, community leaders and parents across the nation continue to desperately seek measures to keep students safe.

Among the most controversial proposals is whether teachers, including those in Maryland, should be armed to fight back against a potential shooter.

Many readers who took our recent survey oppose letting teachers carry guns into the classroom.

The survey, which received almost 300 responses, was not meant to be a scientific poll but designed to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

The survey was open from the morning of Wednesday, July 20 through noon Monday, July 25. When asked if readers supported arming teachers in schools, 86.1 percent said "no" while 13.9 percent said "yes."

The responses reflect 40.1 percent of those who have children in school and 59.9 percent who do not.

Readers had the option of explaining their support for or opposition to arming teachers. Some believe teachers should have the responsibility of being trained to use guns — particularly when seconds count.

"I worked for the school system for 23 years, and I know there is no other way to fully protect students and staff from an armed shooter. I do however feel that only staff who are comfortable and fully trained to use a weapon should carry one," one person commented.

"History has shown us that where shootings occur, good Samaritans that have carry licenses have saved many lives. I want that back-up for my children. We see how police officers keep their own safe but it is obvious they don't have to keep ours safe. Maybe the school staff can," another person wrote.

"I was a teacher for 33 years. Why not offer them the ultimate opportunity to protect their students and themselves. We have recently seen a young man save lives in a mall. Unfortunately, this happens much more often than reported. If we had not been ill-informed for so many years about 'good guys and gals,' with guns we would not be so resistant. Movie stars, music stars, politicians and wealthy people, in general, know how valuable it is to be protected by armed people. Our children deserve the same if not more," another person commented.

Others said that if a teacher is allowed to be armed, he or she must receive thorough training on how to use a firearm, especially during an active shooter situation.

"Those teachers and/or administrators need to be highly trained and have passed a VERY rigorous firearms training and test and background check. The decision to carry should be voluntary," one person commented.

"If they are trained and feel comfortable with it, they would be the first line of defense. One police officer can not cover the whole school," one person said.

"Our teachers and students- would not be sitting ducks - they would be able to have some line of defense," another person said.

While not all respondents agreed on the subject of arming teachers, there were some common school security ideas shared by both sides. Some of these ideas included securing entrances, officers or security guards in schools, metal detectors or other screening measures, locking doors from the inside and improving mental health resources.

"There should be more door locks and cameras as well as SRO presence," one person said.

"Start treating school population for health issues like mental/emotional, substance, family situations. Tend to all troubled students the same, with respect, compassion, and actual treatment targeting actual issues. Start actually teaching education subjects," another person wrote.

"Increase school physical security - perimeter control, defensive drones with observation cameras, one access control point with one-way fire exits everywhere else with alarms if doors are held or propped open, and airlock with bulletproof glazing and a constantly human monitoring of the entry access point," another person commented. "If teachers are not armed, at least two or more armed security guards should be employed at schools depending on the size - and they should be trained to act not stand around in cowardice like Uvalde."

Even though most Marylanders oppose arming teachers, many who took our survey didn't elaborate why. There were a few who said "no" but were still open to the idea of arming teachers in certain situations.

"Do I think all teachers should be armed? No. However, there should be key teachers armed in each section of the school, just to be the local safety personnel if (more like when) a situation calls for it," one person said.

"Teachers shouldn't be 'armed' if they have no firearms training and lack competency with safe gun handling and marksmanship. Eliminating 'gun-free zones' and simply allowing good people, parents, teachers, admin and school staff included, to lawfully carry firearms in and around schools would create an immediate deterrent and countermeasure to prevent and stop violent criminals from attacking our schools," another person said.

Do you think Maryland teachers should be armed? Let us know in the comments section below.