So, I am in the gym yesterday and, given the events unfolding at the DC Navy Yards, a discussion among some guys - one a sheriff's deputy - ensues.  Since it is an active shooter event, the discussion shifts to school shootings and the deputy notes that he is not sure about the arming of teachers because he is afraid that when he and his fellow deputies enter in search of the active shooter, what if a teacher is walking around with a pistol in his hand and gets shot on sight as a perpetrator.

As a "teacher" who has been in front of a class of 200 students when the campus went into lock down and had students tell him that they were not scared because he would protect them, I had to differ on this a bit.  As I have noted before, I have told my wife that, should I ever be killed on campus is such an incident, she needs to sue everyone from the University President right up to the Governor for failing to allow me to carry my legally permitted firearm.  Quite honestly, in the initial stages of such an event, I prefer my chances with my firearm, holed up in the classroom against an armed intruder to waiting it out and hoping to be found while LE finds their way to my location.

I appreciate that some training is in order - I am a veteran of 10 years in the Army.  I know how to handle my weapon.  I know not to go wandering around, trying to find the shooter and clear the building on my own.  I also know that I can do better for myself and my students than to follow the ridiculous recommendations posted in classroom to hide and throw book bags.

It is somewhat disconcerting that both the bad guys AND the "good guys" prefer that the people in side be unarmed.