Texas school district takes step to prevent mass shooting

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

Mass shootings aren’t as big of a problem as many try to project, but even one is too many. The idea of someone taking a gun and trying to kill as many people as humanly possible is something few of us can begin to wrap our heads around.

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And if you can, you may want to seek help.

As a result, though, there’s always some kind of discussion on how to prevent them, particularly school shootings. In Texas, one independent school district is taking some definitive steps to prevent them in their schools.

The La Vernia ISD voted on Monday to allow authorized staff members to carry firearms.

That means that if anyone tries to commit a mass shooting there, it’s not likely they’ll get very far before being met with armed resistance. Since we know that such resistance tends to put an end to such shootings, the sooner that force can be brought to bear, the better.

Undoubtedly, some are less than thrilled by this happening, but they need to get over it.

After all, these are often the same people who think teachers should be treated as heroes, allowed to do as they wish in their classrooms with regard to what is being taught, and are otherwise above reproach. If all that is true, then why is it somehow wrong for them to have the means to defend not just their own life, but the lives of their students?

Such arguments have never made any sense to me.

We know that mass shootings happen and that while they can the thwarted well before it gets to the shooting stage, once that happens there’s usually not much you can do except either resist or die. It’s harsh, but it’s the truth.

That won’t happen in La Vernia ISD now.

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See, those that would target a school are likely going to look elsewhere. They want body counts. That means they’re unlikely to take the risk that someone might put an end to their atrocity before it can even get going. They’ll find a softer target.

And that’s really all a gun-free zone is, a softer target.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not thrilled with the idea that only certain staff members will be able to carry. The Second Amendment is still the Second Amendment after all.

However, I’m not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and this is a good step for the district. In fact, it needs to be the norm in every school district.

Some teachers may not like it, but since it doesn’t require anyone to carry a firearm, they can just get over it. Don’t want guns? Don’t carry one.

Of course, they’ll get to benefit from someone else carrying a gun should there be an attempted mass shooting, but don’t expect them to admit their mistake.

Truthfully, La Vernia ISD has taken a huge step forward to combat mass shootings and protect its students and staff. I applaud them for it.

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