What Conservatives Mean by "Arming the Teachers"

When we discuss arming teachers and school staff in our schools, no doubt what most people envision, and certainly what most gun grabbers envision, is issuing a gun to each teacher.  Of course, they expect that the teachers will get no training and react to a shooter by shooting up the classroom killing as many students as they do murders.  Or, they  expect that the teachers will be given paramilitary training or SWAT training, again with similar results.  They envision teachers running around dressed in tactical gear with a big weapon on their hip and multiple magazines on their belt, possibly a radio, looking like someone from the set of SEAL Team.  And for the unthinking public, that is as far as their thinking goes.

However, the truth is quite different.  What we envision is that those already carrying concealed outside the school, with a permit, would be allowed to bring there concealed carry guns to  school.  Naturally, being concealed, I expect that nobody would be aware of who has such a permit, or which teachers carry every day.  Indeed, the school district should not advertise the names of teachers who carry to school, even to the other teachers.

The weapons carried by teachers and staff should be the ones they themselves chose and carry every day.  This is their personal property, like the clothes they wear.  Thus the school district does not need to expend money for weapons, or ammunition.  Similarly, holsters, magazine carriers, and so forth, should be whatever the person already carries, so again no need for the school district to spend extra money on these items.

The one place where the school district may need to spend funds would be in giving concealed carriers who do double duty providing security in the school some training.  Most concealed carriers get some sort of training in basic marksmanship.  I go to the range on average once every two weeks, for instance, and most carriers do something similar.  Some of us also participate in International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) meets, which presents various realistic scenarios and times participants response.  However, getting dynamic training with an emphasis on school shooting scenarios is expensive.  However, if teachers can participate with sheriff or police department, that might reduce the costs.

Every day, you encounter concealed carriers in places like restaurants, gas stations, the grocery store, and on the street.  Some of those people are teachers and school staff.  They don't look or act any different than anyone else.  They are among us every day, and you will never know it unless...