Gun-Free Zones are extraordinarily dangerous places

Armed Schools Deter Violent Attacks

Homo sapiens have been killing each other since the beginning of time. The will to destroy or defend is natural for the human race. As technology has increased over the years, so have the tools used in this line of nature, whether they are used to kill or used to protect. Some say, “Guns kill people like spoons made Rosie O’Donnell fat,” while others retort, “If Rosie cannot be trusted with spoons, her spoons should be taken away.” The truth to the matter is even if you took her spoons away, she would still eat. If you take a killer’s gun away, he will still kill.

Human violence cannot be predicted, so it is merely common sense to always be prepared.

Some of the most memorable and shocking misfortunes are shootings in schools. There is a problem already. These are referred to as “shootings” as in, the threats shot their victims as if they were fish in a barrel. Shootings should be avoided by taking necessary action. If citizens on campus could have access to firearms these “shootings” would be referred to as “shootouts” as in, the threats tried to shoot their victims but several of the “fish” fought back with an equal deadly force and stopped the threat. Many seem to refuse to learn from past experience in the case of a school shooting. School shootings occur because the attackers know that no one will have a chance at fighting back. Schools are “Gun Free Zones.” Of course, this only applies to law abiding citizens.

Instead of allowing qualified persons in schools to carry firearms to assure safety, students and teachers lock themselves in little rooms and squeeze together. The logic behind this must be to assist the attackers in taking more lives. By grouping themselves together, the attackers can easily mow down three or four defenseless students with one shot. Those that invented the lockdown procedure believe in a false sense of security.

Zero-tolerance policies for guns by schools are an affront to U.S. Constitution and everything this country stands for. This must come to an end.

Incidents such as Columbine and the Virginia Tech shootings may have been prevented if law abiding citizens with FBI background checks and training were allowed to possess firearms on school grounds. Violent crimes are less likely to be committed when the attacker knows that their victims will defend themselves with deadly force.

Dave Kopel, research director for the Independence Institute, brings up an interesting point based on common sense thinking tactics: “Sure, blame the gun. Keep on ducking real responsibility for children's safety and moral education. Teach people to be afraid, but not how to protect themselves. Keep on hating inanimate objects and the law-abiding people who own them.” Another common mistaken belief is caused by the false sense of security that everyone will follow the rules. The truth is simple. Why would a criminal with intentions of breaking the law obey gun control laws? Laws banning firearms are only followed by law abiding citizens.

Prior to the enactment of the 1995 “Gun-Free School Zone” legislation signed by President Bill Clinton, teachers could bring firearms onto school grounds. Between 1977 and 1995 there was only one school shooting in states that had right-tocarry laws. Then the carnage began first in October 1997, in Pearl, Mississippi. No firearms on campus set the stage for mass killings. When there is nobody prepared to defend lives with deadly force an evil person sees an opportunity for a free ride.

During a school lockdown, some students feel safe.

School administrators believe that the perception of security is more important that providing real security for students.

Massad Ayoob, a law enforcement officer, renowned expert on firearms and self defense techniques estimates that one out of twenty teachers and administrators would be willing to carry firearms on campus.

Patrick Johnston describes several incidents that occurred within six weeks of each other in the United States public school system:

• A drifter walks off the street into a Colorado public school and kidnaps a half a dozen girls before sexually molesting then shooting one of them.
• Three Wisconsin teenagers are taken into custody for plotting a bomb attack on their school.
• A teacher is gunned down in Vermont as a man searches angrily from classroom to classroom for his ex-girlfriend.
• Another student in a rural school shoots his principal. (Johnston) What do all of the incidents have in common? These crimes were committed within the boundaries of safe “gun-free zones.” All of these hostiles shared one puzzle piece of knowledge that allowed them to choose their target and go through with their plans. No one was going to stop them.

Gun-Free Zones are extraordinarily dangerous places. All “gun-free zones” amount to are “selfdefense prohibition zones” for law abiding citizens, and therefore become “free-fire zones” for psychopaths, “terrorists,” and other homicidal criminals (Vieira). Schools are the most well known “gun-free zones.” If a picture of a laser gun is sketched by a student, there will most likely be serious consequences to pay for. The idea on firearms in schools must be reversed before any more occurrences transpire, causing more deaths of beloved students and children. The U.S. constitution, the constitutions of forty four states, common law, and the laws of all 50 states are acquainted with the right to use arms in selfdefense in one way or another. Right-to-carry laws respect the right to self-defense by allowing individual citizens to carry firearms for protection.

Why should the United States school systems remain vulnerable by not adapting to the only practical trend that succeeds in protection? It is time to restore liberty and safety at all our schools.

By Brett Hoeppner
January 9, 2008

Brett Hoeppner is an AP Honors Sophomore at Cactus Shadows High School, SCTP National Champion in Skeet Shooting, Arizona Junior Olympic Silver Medalist in International Skeet and a Life Member of the NRA.

http://www.sonorannews.com/archives/2008/080109-02/GuestEditorial.html

Red State Patriot response: Linda Bentley reported in the January 30, 2008 Sonoran News that Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, after reading Brett Hoeppner’s convincing guest editorial about the fallacy of gun-free-school zones, introduced a bill that would allow concealed weapons on school grounds by persons in possession of a valid permit.

Posted February 3, 2008 08:43 AM
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