Ore. lawmaker says teachers should be allowed guns
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon lawmaker contends the massacre that left more than two dozen people dead at a Connecticut elementary school is another "heartbreaking failure" of school personnel to ensure protection, and is a reminder that teachers should be allowed to carry guns in the classroom.
State Rep. Dennis Richardson, a Central Point Republican, wrote in an email to three southern Oregon school superintendents that gun bans on school property must be overturned, the Mail Tribune newspaper reported Saturday.
"If I had been a teacher or the principal at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and if the school district did not preclude me from having access to a firearm, either by concealed carry or locked in my desk, most of the murdered children would still be alive, and the gunman would still be dead, and not by suicide," he wrote.
When contacted by phone, Richardson added that he believes at least three officials in every school should be trained in the use of firearms.
In 2009, the Medford School District barred a South Medford High School teacher from bringing her gun to school. The teacher later lost a court appeal case.
"We need to ensure that our children are safe, and we can't do that by disarming those who are on the scene," Richardson said.
Medford police Chief Tim George disagreed with Richardson, saying that it's not the responsibility of teachers to make deadly force decisions on the job.
"Teachers don't go into teaching to be police officers, they want to teach kids," George said. "In crisis situations there are a lot of very complex things happening all at once and you have to constantly train for deadly force incidents."
Medford schools Superintendent Phil Long, who received the email from Richardson, said he believes it's best if teachers focus on getting children to safety if a shooting occurs. The district trains its staff in lockdown procedures meant to protect children from violence on school grounds.
Long said the district called attention to those safety procedures in the wake of the Connecticut tragedy. Employees were reminded of where to go and what to do should such a situation occur in Medford.
"I know (Richardson) is well-intentioned when he says this," Long said. "But we can't jump to conclusions immediately after a tragedy like this occurs."
State Rep. Dennis Richardson, a Central Point Republican, wrote in an email to three southern Oregon school superintendents that gun bans on school property must be overturned, the Mail Tribune newspaper reported Saturday.
"If I had been a teacher or the principal at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and if the school district did not preclude me from having access to a firearm, either by concealed carry or locked in my desk, most of the murdered children would still be alive, and the gunman would still be dead, and not by suicide," he wrote.
When contacted by phone, Richardson added that he believes at least three officials in every school should be trained in the use of firearms.
In 2009, the Medford School District barred a South Medford High School teacher from bringing her gun to school. The teacher later lost a court appeal case.
"We need to ensure that our children are safe, and we can't do that by disarming those who are on the scene," Richardson said.
Medford police Chief Tim George disagreed with Richardson, saying that it's not the responsibility of teachers to make deadly force decisions on the job.
"Teachers don't go into teaching to be police officers, they want to teach kids," George said. "In crisis situations there are a lot of very complex things happening all at once and you have to constantly train for deadly force incidents."
Medford schools Superintendent Phil Long, who received the email from Richardson, said he believes it's best if teachers focus on getting children to safety if a shooting occurs. The district trains its staff in lockdown procedures meant to protect children from violence on school grounds.
Long said the district called attention to those safety procedures in the wake of the Connecticut tragedy. Employees were reminded of where to go and what to do should such a situation occur in Medford.
"I know (Richardson) is well-intentioned when he says this," Long said. "But we can't jump to conclusions immediately after a tragedy like this occurs."
well said! don't punish the good Americans because of what the bad ones did. we don't need more strict laws on guns. more people need to protect themselves or anyone with guns.
Guns have no place in a school period even in today's society..
State Rep. Dennis Richardson's idea is on the right track, but the Department of Education would not allow it. The combination of depression, anti-depression medication and weapons has lead to many violent situations. I have worked with several of these children and they tell me that do not have the ability to feel emotion, or think rational when taking these medications. Some suspects have used pistols, some have used rifles, or knives, but ALL have been medicated.
The Portland police are poisoners and framers Eric Carlson the cop was having an affair with my wife Joan Wagar and he and his partners gave my wife permission to poison me to death and I was a regular plasma donor at the time!
In 2007 Eric Carlson and his partner John Ray tried to frame me for a murder they committed, they committed a early morning break in on March 26th 2007 and they raped, photographed, and killed a female child named Jesica! and they broke into my home to plant evidence in my apartment and my wife Joan Wagar helped them by opening her bedroom window for them to let them into our home while I was sleeping on the couch!
Their break in woke me up and I at first thought I was catching my wife in her affair with an armed police officer so I put a audio recorder in my wife's purse and then laid back down on my couch knowing my wife will be leaving for work soon!
I not only caught them in their affair I caught them in a murder and I caught them planting evidence in my home to frame me for it!
Eric Carlson and John Ray and Joan Wagar bragged about their crimes to Joan Wagar's sister Vickie Rosales at Clackamas Walmart and my audio recorder caught that as well!
My 911 calls are covered up by Portland police and I have been denied emergency services ever since my wife started an affair with a Portland police officer!
My complaints are covered up and ignored by police and hospitals and I am severely disabled from being poisoned!
Eric Carlson and his partners in law enforcement have been stalking me and renting apartments around mine on and off for years now and all complaints I make are covered up and ignored!
I caught Joan Wagar and Eric Carlson waiting in ambush just outside my doorway at 5:45 am and they were armed with guns and they were recording with a camcorder and a cellphone! they were going to shoot me when I take my dog for a walk and they were going to record me being shot!
Eric Carlson's partner Shannon was hiding behind a van and trailer when I opened my door and I saw him dive behind the trailer so I grabbed my camcorder and aimed it at the trailer trying to see who it was!
To my shock and horror my wife Joan Wagar and her lover the cop Eric Carlson were waiting in ambush just outside my door!
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