The course only lasts 3 days, and in this time, the teachers are in constant contact with the weapons. Courses like this aren’t new in the country and there are already 14 states in which teachers can be armed.
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Armed for better protection
According to a journalist from the BBC who attended one of these training courses and interviewed some participants, the main aim of carrying a firearm is to ensure safety and security in schools, especially for schools located in areas that aren’t very easily accessible to police when a problem may arise.
‘Our school is in a rural area, police officers could take anywhere from 15-20 minutes to get to us and in a school shooting, it’s over and done with by then,’ said the head teacher who feels it is necessary for teachers to carry a firearm.
In the United States, school shootings are unfortunately very common tragedies. Among them is the famous shooting Columbine that was brought to light in the film 'Elephant' directed by Gus Van Sant, and in a documentary directed by Michael Moore. For teachers, carrying weapons is without a doubt a good way to be able to protect themselves if a situation as extreme as this were to ever happen.
