A select group of teachers will be armed in Keene Independent School District. The board voted to approve the measure that will help staff keep students and other faculty safe.
The issue is of course controversial, but Keene Supervisor, Ricky Stephens, who was once against such a move, realizes that the world has shifted and protecting students against those bent on evil must come from within.
“We’re going to do a minimum of 80 hours a year of training,” said Chief Tim Kosar, with Keene ISD police. “We’ll do it at least quarterly, and three of four times we train a year will be at a range.”
Kosar, who’s the sole police officer for the district’s new police department, says specific staff will be asked to volunteer to carry, but no one will be forced. For safety reasons, they’re not disclosing how many teachers or who will carry. The selected and trained staff would keep the guns on them at all times so kids wouldn’t have access.
Of course, there are parents who oppose the idea, but certainly their opposition would be greater should their child be shot dead in a fourth grade classroom because another mass shooting occurred in a gun-free zone. Viewpoints vary, but one that unites is the pledge that the children must be safe to learn and in Keene, teachers will help provide that safety.
“It’s tough, I mean, it’s scary just thinking about guns in school period,” said Kevon Brown, a parent of a Keene ISD student. “I don’t think there should be guns in school at all.”
Parents are conflicted. Brown, the father of a third grader, says just the proposition shows how scary the world has become. Michelle McCormick, a fourth and eighth grade parent, says it’s “terrible we have to do this,” but necessary.
“It does shock me,” she said. “But I have to tell you I’m for it.”
Source: WFAA
Thank God.