In the months following the horrific massacre in Uvalde, TX where 19 children and two adults were murdered, interest in the policy of armed school staff on K-12 campuses has been on the upswing, big time. And as there are more conversations about having well-trained and armed teachers, janitors, and coaches on campus to protect the lives of our children and grandchildren, there are also more conversations that involve myths and plain-old inaccuracies.
As noted below, support for armed school staff programs is on the rise, both among law enforcement and the general public. Interest from Colorado school districts since Uvalde has been 10 times the typical interest following any other school shooting. As the Executive Director of FASTER Colorado, I have spoken with approximately 20 new school districts that are exploring the policy of armed staff. And calls from parents asking about how to persuade their districts to consider such policies has seen a similar increase.
Regardless of the increased support, myths surrounding armed school staff are still alive and well.
See the full article by Laura Carno, September 18, 2022