700 public school teachers receive concealed carry firearms training in Texas

Thursday, April 18, 2013 by: J. D. Heyes
Tags: firearms, concealed carry, school teachers

(NaturalNews) Pro-Second Amendment advocates think it is about time to end the "no-gun zones" that are public schools, so they are applauding efforts in Texas to provide concealed-carry training for hundreds of teachers in the Lone Star State.

Since the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December, there has been much national "debate," if you want to call it that, over so-called gun violence and what to do about it. The White House, along with most Democrats and even some Republicans, believe the answer is the capricious implementation of new punitive anti-gun measures aimed at law-abiding citizens who are simply trying to cling to their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Others, however, are taking a different approach. They seek to empower, rather than enslave, the law-abiding. They seek to preserve liberty and constitutionalism. And they are refusing to lie down and subject themselves to future random acts of senseless school-based gun violence.

'Nowadays I don't think people feel safe...'

According to the Dallas Morning News, more than 700 teachers and school officials, along with many more Texans, took part recently in a massive concealed carry course held in Kennedale aimed not at "making policy," per se, but rather at educating - and maybe even influencing the "debate" a little.

"This has to do with my job and how crazy it's getting in the world," Michael Nunley, Arlington Independent School District security supervisor, told the paper.

"Nowadays I don't think people feel safe. Everybody is becoming more aware of safety, not only in schools, but in their homes and on the streets," he said.

Not surprisingly for Texas anyway, the idea for the course began with Dalworthington Gardens Police Chief Bill Waybourn, who said he had hoped to teach it with famed Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, but he was killed in February at an Erath County gun range, allegedly by a troubled veteran he was attempting to help.

Waybourn said Kyle created the free course for teachers following Newtown.

"It went from 20 to 30 teachers to the more than 700 we have here today," Waybourn said. "It just exploded with Chris' involvement."

In fact, class involvement spread throughout the state. The Morning News said educators from as far away as Austin and North Texas also attended, according to Tarrant County's Clint Burgess.

"The intention of this class is not to set policy but educate," he told the paper.

Though Kennedale ISD provided the venue for the class, officials there said the school was not yet considering allowing staff members to carry firearms on campus. But that could change as more and more teachers become trained and familiar with a gun.

"I think the hope for everybody today is to walk away with a better understanding of a topic that's often misrepresented and a better understanding of safety and laws," said public relations coordinator Erin Hyden.

Influencing minds - and the pro-Second Amendment debate - one course at a time

Some of the teachers did say they will get their concealed-carry permit, but others said they attended the course to sort of pay homage to Kyle.

"It's a feeling of completing the vision Chris and I had, and though he's missing, his essence is here," said Waybourn. The paper said that before lunch, the venue had already sold out of t-shirts with Kyle's photo and philosophy printed across the front: It is our duty to serve those who serve us.

Kyle's younger brother Jeff Kyle and his widow, Taya Kyle, spoke to the teachers during the course.

"I'm not saying I think teachers should carry guns, but it's important they are educated," said Jeff Kyle said. "Chris was about knowledge of firearms and helping provide a sense of security for people."

The proliferation and perpetuation of no gun killing zones is a sad commentary on American society today. Surrendering our right to self-defense in all venues, at all times, has clearly not worked as public policy. The movement to educate educators about proper gun use is a good first step in reversing this "come and kill me" mindset.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.dallasnews.com

http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.star-telegram.com