Strapped

I know that I have sworn not to listen to any more talk radio but, Lord help me, I still do. I have it on during the morning commute because it is mostly news with only moderate commentary from the hosts. In the afternoon commute, however, that host is just not a nice person. And speaking as a conservative person, this conservative radio host is looney!

Recently the host took the necessary classes to prepare for applying for a concealed-carry permit, and he has been on the band wagon to encourage everyone to follow suit. It is his contention that the only way we are ever going to be safe is if we are all carrying weapons.

Today the conversation centered around the recent spate of school shootings and whether or not teachers should not only be allowed but actually required to carry weapons, maintaining that these shootings might not have happened if the shooters had known beforehand of the potential risk of a "strapped" teacher or perhaps a well-armed teacher might have been able to save a life or two.

One caller claimed to be a public school teacher who was absolutely opposed to teachers carrying weapons, but he was also "absolutely" supportive of the concealed carry law. This conflict, of course, trapped him. He just did not feel that armed teachers are conducive to a positive learning environment and as he also pointed out, not everyone should be allowed to carry weapons. The law has its own limitations and requirements and it must also be pointed out that if one could not qualify to carry a weapon under the radio host's idea, then one could not serve as a teacher.

As a former Marine, I have had extensive weapons training but not nearly as much as the average police officer. What I do remember most from all that training is that it has to be constant for one to be proficient, and it is not all a simple matter of pulling the trigger and hitting what is being aimed at. There is a mentality that must be able to tell the difference between an uncomfortable situation and a genuine threat. Simply meeting the one-time requirements to earn the concealed-carry permit is just not enough.

I know some who make time to go to firing ranges and shoot regularly. In fact, I used to enjoy it myself. Over the years, though, I've gotten away from it and could not say for sure how I would react if I were to be carrying a weapon and was confronted with a situation that would require a snap judgment on my part. That judgment would literally be a matter of life or death. "Shoot to wound" can only be properly applied by a well-trained police officer who undergoes such situational training on a consistent basis. Run-of-the-mill citizens do not have this kind of time.

Even when Peter's intentions were admirable, Jesus reminded him to sheath that sword for "those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword". Did He mean that someone might accidentally be killed by an error in judgment, or did He mean that we would perhaps sacrfice the well-being of our souls to protect our "stuff" or even our loved ones?

The school shootings require our attention and there are reasonable options for having armed police officers on campuses. Arming every teacher, however, is inviting trouble. How can we declare a school zone to be "weapons free" while demanding that every adult citizen carry a weapon while on campus?