Teacher Group Opposes Guns for Teachers

EduTex Report-"Reporting" on Education and Education Policy in Texas...often before it happens


The only Texas Legislature-approved teacher group, TAPT (Texas Association of Powerless Teachers), has gone on record to oppose the requirement that teachers post the second amendment in their classrooms and carry concealed guns at all times while at school or school related functions.  TAPT lists several concerns as the basis of their objection to this soon-to-be legislative  requirement.

The simplest objection regards how and where teachers are supposed to carry guns at school.  Teachers will have to constantly carry backpacks, purses or some other item to conceal the weapons.  Coaches have expressed concern about the easy access of guns at their various games...at least, there was a concern raised about whether or not referees would also be allowed to carry guns.  The few coaches who agree with the gun-carrying provision would not support it if referees are also allowed to carry guns during the games.  State representative A.S. Shole stated, "I understand this is an inconvenience, but it is a temporary one at most.  I will propose legislation which will certainly pass which would not require teachers to conceal their guns.  Therefore, all they need is a holster to put on their belts."

A second concern raised by TAPT was the cost of the gun, the training, and the license to carry the guns since all of these are costs that teachers will have to bear plus the legal liability that teacher could potentially face.  Representative Shole responded, " Teachers commonly waste $800-$1000 dollars a year on useless educational material like books, bulletin board decorations, and other unnecessary 'supplies'.  They can simply put that money to good use and invest it-rather than waste it-on things of real value and importance.  We will ensure that any gun bought by a teacher which will be carried at school will be exempt from sales tax and we'll provide a voucher to be used to help cover the cost of the gun itself.  The voucher should be enough to cover a significant portion of the cost of the gun since  the state will no longer be purchasing text books or other so-called instructional material and the state will,therefore,  have enough financial resources to assist in the intial cost of the gun.  We will also exempt teachers or other school personel from any liability arising from gun related incidents.  Teachers should use their best judgement and the state will back them up on this."

TAPT also noted that teachers are under a lot of pressure and stress because of increased state mandated testing as well as problems created by billions of dollars in state budget cuts for education which resulted in larger classes, inadequate supplies, outdated textbooks, less resources to meet student needs, and numerous other problems.  TAPT is concerned that such easy access to guns will lead to an increase in teacher suicides.  Representative A. S. Shole, speaking on behalf of the powerful Texas Tea Party Caucus in the Texas House, acknowledged this is a possibility but his caucus wasn't concerned about it.  "If you can't handle a gun, then you shouldn't be teaching in Texas anyway.  This issue has motivated us to push for some new legislation which would modify 6 credit hours to the teacher certification program at all universities in Texas.  The new classes would require training in handling, firing, and caring for all the various types of guns teachers could carry.  All prospective teachers would be required to pass a markmanship course.  There wouldn't be any additional hours required to be certified  because we will reduce the hours required in the subject by 6.  They can find all the information they need on the internet anyway.  We would also require that all Teacher Retirement System money that these teachers had contributed to TRS would automatically be confiscated and given to the gun voucher program which would also save Texas money. Also, this would decrease the surplus population of incompetent, non-gun toting teachers.  We don't see a downside to this potential issue.   We simply will take a minor negative consequence and turn it into a major positive thing for the taxpayers of Texas who don't want to pay for anything anyway."

More Guns Needed to Curb Gun Violence

EduTex Report-"Reporting" on Education and Education Policy in Texas...often before it happens
 Royal Governor of Texas Calls for More Guns to Solve Problem of Gun Violence

 

 Rick Perry, along with other state officials in Texas, recommends increasing the prevalence of guns to stem the tide of violence caused by the prevalence of guns.  )See the Texas Tribune article

 

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-dept-criminal-justice/guns-texas/state-gun/.)  He proposes that teachers and other school officials should be required to carry guns to reduce violence, late work, and tardiness.  According to his spokesman, Gerald Ulysses Nunn, Perry is going to issue an executive order requiring the Texas Education Agency to join with the NRA to submit a plan to implement his proposal.  This collaboration has resulted in a modification of the TEA which is now the TERA or Texas Eduaction and Rifle Association. The president of the State Board of Education has stated that the SBOE was in the process of correcting all social studies curriculum requirements to include a week long emphasis on the need for all Texans to adequately appreciate and admire guns and expect all Texans to own and carry a minimum of 3 guns in order to protect the state from encroachments by the federal government and other anti-American heretics.

New teacher training programs are already developed to train teachers, administrators, and support staff in the proper use of firearms although only administrators will be allowed to carry automatic weapons. 

To help with this measure,the legislature has nullified the sales tax on guns.  State Representative A.S. Shole said that their was no reason to place a burdensome tax on guns when the state doesn't tax other essentials like food. The legislature is also going to award tax exempt status to any business that sells guns since other religious organizations get tax breaks. 

When Mr. Shole was asked about the prohibitive cost of providing training in the  use of guns to all school personel when the state has not replaced out of date social studies textbooks, Mr. Shole said, "There's always money available for important things and guns are important.  To much book-learnin' may make kids think for themselves and that can be dangerous.  The social studies books need to be rewritten anyway to reflect the truth about our God-given right to own guns and the truth about American exceptionalism and God's special blessing on America.  We must fight against anyone who teaches anything other than what TERA commands."

In addition, the legislature overwhelmingly voted to change the state motto from "friendship" to "straight shooters" which was chosen over "Guns and God" because it carries both a "pro-gun and anti-gay message that all true Texans believe" according to the official statement from the propoganda office of the state legislature.