American school shootings are dramatically on the rise. According to The Statistics Portal (2018), there have been over 290 school shootings in the country since 2013. Statistics also indicate that in 2018, there have been over 17 school shootings since the year began (The Statistics Portal, 2018). There is no doubt that stakeholders must identify a good solution for this problem. It is the reason why President Donald Trump proposed that teachers should have guns to respond to this problem. In the wake of the recent Florida school shooting, the debate of whether teachers should carry guns intensified.

Since the president stated that teachers that undergo gun training would receive bonuses, stakeholders in the whole country heightened the debate with some supporting the arming of teachers while others are opposing it. Lawmakers are beginning to consider legislation that would see teachers receive more resources than they currently have, including guns. School teachers should carry guns because it will deter shooters from committing crimes, respond to the tragedy faster than the law enforcement, and enable educators to have more flexibility and control over the security of academic institutions.

Arming teachers has benefits. One of them is that by having more people with guns in school, perpetrators will be reluctant to open shootings in schools. According to Shuffelton (2015), airports, banks, office buildings, among many other areas have more protection than schools because workers have guns. The second benefit is that teachers will be able to respond faster to shooters than law enforcement. It is particularly referent to rural schools whereby medics and police officers take a considerable amount of time to respond to such tragedies. The third benefit is that teachers and districts will have more flexibility and control over the security of academic institutions. Warnick, Kim, & Robinson (2015) say that it would be costly to the federal government to hire more police officers and dedicated guards. If teachers receive training on gun handling, it would be affordable. Supporters of this argument use the three arguments as their main reasons for proposing the arming of teachers to control gun violence in schools.

Opposers of the policy of arming teachers give three primary reasons for their argument. The first one is that teachers will not be able to focus on teaching, knowing that they have guns in school. Statistics show that majority of American teachers oppose the idea of carrying guns because it will divert their attention from work and put it on how to prevent students from getting their arms (The Statistics Portal, 2018). Another reason behind opposition to teachers carrying guns is that it will increase gun violence in schools. Study findings by Hamzelou (2015) indicate that teachers will deal with an increase in discipline and intensity problems if they carry arms to schools. The presence of a gun in a classroom increase aggressive behavior.

Since teachers will have them inside the class, some students will attempt to steal them, which will lead to increase in gun violence if they succeed. The third disadvantage of allowing teachers to carry guns to school is that it will make it a challenge for first responders, primarily medics and law enforcement, to respond to such tragedies (Shuffelton, 2015). Although police officers can easily distinguish between a gunshot and other types of noise, teachers cannot. It will not only result in mayhem in academic institutions but will also make it a problem for a quick response. When shootings occur, and teachers respond, it will deter law enforcement to properly address the situation when they arrive at the scene of the crime.

Teachers should carry guns to school because of three primary reasons. It will deter shooters from committing crimes, enable teachers to respond to the tragedy faster than the law enforcement, and enable them to have more flexibility and control over the security of academic institutions. I believe that schools will be safer than they currently are if teachers are armed. With the rising school shootings which claim young lives with bright futures, the best solution is for teachers to carry guns. The claim by opposers of this policy that it will make teachers stop concentrating on work, increase gun violence, and make it challenging for first responders to control the situation, leading to mayhem in academic institutions, are unfounded. When educators have guns, students and other perpetrators that can potentially shoot people in schools will not do so because they will be afraid.

The district is currently against teachers carrying guns to school. It is the reason behind the increase in the number of school shootings. In implementing this decision, the district cites an increase in aggression by students and the potential of gun violence being on the increase. While it is a good policy, it is wrong because, in spite of its aim to reduce shootings, it is achieving the contrary. The district must change it and allow the arming of teachers to reduce gun violence in schools effectively.

The debate on whether teachers should carry guns in school is a contemporary issue that is ongoing. Supporters of this argument state that arming of teachers will deter shooters from committing crimes, respond to the tragedy faster than the law enforcement, and enable educators to have more flexibility and control over the security of academic institutions. Opposers argue that it will make teachers not to work well, increase gun violence in schools, and make it a challenge for first responders, medics, and law enforcement, not to respond well to the situation. Although the district policy is opposition to arming of teachers, I do not support it. Teachers should carry guns if schools are to reduce the frequent shootings.