LA Times - "GOP legislators propose California school districts arm teachers"

[TomCADem]

Even in California, the GOP is proposing to introduce even more guns into schools whether teachers want their colleagues armed or not.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/30/local/la-me-guns-schools-20130131

SACRAMENTO — A group of Republican state lawmakers Wednesday proposed allowing school districts to spend education funds to train teachers, administrators and janitors in gun use.

Responding to last month's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the lawmakers said arming school personnel would help protect campuses against violent intruders.

"The idea is to create essentially an invisible line of defense around our kids," said Assemblyman and tea party adherent Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino. He and one of his coauthors announced the proposal at a Capitol news conference.

* * *
Donnelly, who was once fined more than $2,200 for taking a loaded gun to Ontario International Airport, said the school marshal program would ensure that those carrying concealed weapons have permits and training. No one outside the school administration would know the identity of marshals on campus.

[TomCADem]

1. LA Times - "Teachers criticize bill that would arm them"

I can't blame teachers for opposing a measure that would permit colleagues to anonymously pack heat. Also, as a parent, I would want to know if teachers are armed so I can pull my children out as necessary.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2013/01/teachers-guns-criticized.html

A proposal by a group of Republican lawmakers to arm teachers, administrators and janitors at California schools is getting poor grades from the state's teachers associations.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino and six colleagues have introduced a bill that would allow school districts to spend education funding to train teachers and other campus employees in the use of concealed guns in case an armed intruder invades the campus.

"I think it's patently ridiculous,'' said Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers. "School funding is precious in California and we're going to take those precious dollars to have guns on campus? That's not what our schools need.'' As the father of a teenager in L.A. Unified, Pechthalt said, he would be concerned about having his child on a campus with gun-packing teachers.

He said school safety should be left to campus police and other well-trained law enforcement. Dean Vogel, president of the California Teachers’ Assn., agrees. "Putting more guns in schools is really not the way to go,'' Vogel said. ``Armed security should be left to the experts.''

[libdem4life]

3. Parents taking kids out of school because of fear of violence, other parents taking kids out because

of fear of campus guns. Leaving gun politics OUT for a moment, both sides have fear issues...just different ones.

Same for teachers with the most likely result...again, regardless of the gun issue...a dwindling of qualified entry-level teachers and early retirement for others.

One group that will likely benefit from both is Charter Schools.

Knowing participants with all of the above perspectives, including Charter Schools, it's a difficult choice.

[DakotaLady]

2. Day by day ...

... one thinks/hopes that it won't get any crazier and dagnabbit it does. Make it stop make it stop ...

[longship]

4. GOP? Good luck with that in CA...

...where Dems hold a super majority in both houses and the governorship.

I worry more about MI, where the GOP is well entrenched in state government.

[Politicalboi]

5. People should keep their kids

Home from school then. Parents should have a right to take them out and tell them they don't want guns at school. The schools shouldn't have to abide by this new gun law. Fuck them. And if I were a teacher, I would sue the school for allowing my co-workers to carry a gun. I bet they didn't sign up for this in their contract. We need the teachers and the students to protest this by not showing up for school.

[dballance]

6. What A Completely Asinine Idea - Leave it to the GOP

Schools are already strapped in their education budgets thanks mainly to you GOP. Now you want to take more funds away from instruction of students, you know - the whole reason the schools exist in the first place, and put it toward fire arms training? Just when I think you can't be more "stupid," in the words of Jindal, you prove me wrong. This sort of idea is part of what truly makes you the "stupid party."