Gun Control in School
In light of the recent shooting of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, school principals have been pressed to find means to prevent any future tragedies from occurring. In an attempt to help the matter, the Obama Administration, lead by Vice President Joe Biden, is trying to change gun laws and mental health spending. Across the country, schools have been encouraged to take a stand against gun laws, although most are not eager, as that implies staff wielding guns.
One school district that is taking a stand is the Montpellier, Ohio Exempted Village Schools Board of Education, who adopted a policy that allows school janitors to carry guns while on the job to defend students against any intruders. This school is one of the few that support principals or staff having a weapon handy.
Rachel Maehr, principal of the Novak Academy in Champaign said, “I do not feel that we are trained law enforcement officers so we should not have guns. That is for trained law enforcement officers.”
UHS Principal Mr. Wiemelt called the shooting in Newtown “a tragedy” and said, “As school principal and educator, it also makes us really reflect and come back together to reevaluate our policies and procedures as well.”
When it comes to UHS’s procedures, either our principal or his assistant would come over the intercom, and the school wouls go into code red, or code red no alert. In addition, someone would call 911 to include law enforcement aid.
Most of the specific details about the procedures are kept secret as to maintain a sense of privacy about the matter. As a school, UHS is reevaluating their plan of action to make sure it is as safe and effective as possible.
In response to the idea that school principals or staff should have a gun in case of emergency, Mr. Wiemelt said, “I would not be in favor of having to be armed, as a school principal I think there are lots of issues that could come up there; for one, I have no training, and I am not a police officer. There are lots of things that would have to fall into place for that to even go through.” In addition, he felt that it is not the Urbana School District philosophy to practice concealed carry.
The issue of school shootings will not disappear in the near future, but until then, school administrators and government alike will have to find a way to prevent them. Although, for most, having a gun in case of emergency will not be the solution.
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