Here is my .02 on this. I posted this in another forum, and it was well received. Bear in mind, this is for MA.. laws in PA might differ a bit, but the principal is the same..
In one High School, there are 50 teachers, aged 24-65, most have tenure,and some even have CCW permits, and their is one School Resource Officer (armed Police Officer). Outside the school, is your regular F/T police dept. This department also has several Reserve Intermittent Officers (RIO), either on patrol, working details, or riding in the cruisers for their yearly qualification hours. The ages range from 23-28. These officers have been sponsored by a police department, and paid $1000.00 to attend a RIO academy for statewide certification, which lasts 4 months (4 hrs /3 days a week and 8 hrs every saturday). Once they graduate they have the same authority and power as the F/T officers but do not work F/T or get paid the same scale. What if 5+ teachers, went to this academy? They could get paid a yearly bonus for attending, and will receive all of the same training and qualifications as the officers do, and have the same powers. They will be familiar with all the students, the building, the School Resource Officer will know them, and they will be available immediately should trouble arise. Male teachers could carry concealed on their person if they wish or their firearm could be secured in a lock box, along with any females that wished to do this. This would be secured in their classroom, along with the Hi-Viz green traffic safety vest. Nobody has to know that the teacher is armed or trained, except for a record kept with the Principal, the School Officer, other certified teachers and the Police Dept. Students or parents don't have to know who is or isn't armed. Nothing will change. When the trouble starts, you will instantly have a minimum of 6 people inside the school ready to act. The threat could be eliminated almost immediately. Now, before they fully understand what is happening, there will be casualties, but not nearly 26. This I understand. But while chaos is reining inside, and the police are called from all points in the town, lives are being taken. Police response could be up to 5 minutes away, and then they have to wait for another officer to arrive in order to enter. In the meantime, the "officers" inside already have neutralized the situation. I am sure that there were several CCW holders at Sandy Hook who wished they had a gun with them. Any action is better than no action. Imagine if the principal had a weapon when she first confronted this guy. It would have been over immediately. He went there expecting to find, and did, unarmed children and adults to harm. One firearm held by a teacher would have ended this quickly and with alot less casualties. The "officers" would know the laws, liability and have the exact same training as the officers on the outside, coming to their rescue. Instead of hiding under desks, waiting to be killed, they could fight back. No sane person, and I use that term loosly, would enter a place to cause others bodily harm, knowing that people inside were armed, and he would be kllled. Ever hear of a police station being shot up? I heard of a few, and it did not end well for the bad guy, and ended rather quickly. They expect to find defenseless children, not trained adults who can shoot back. As far as funding, it costs $1000.00/person to enter the academy. That is minute when you think of the grand sceme of things. Having 5 extra, armed police officers in a school, who are already there working, is a freebie. They are there anyway, why not use them. They would have to go through the same background procedures as Police Officers. If they are tenured, they are already known to the staff, townspeople and most officers. Anyone who is even remotely questionable, would not be considered. For the initial outlay, a 50/50 raffle can be held to offset the academy cost. Donations could be sought, or whatever. Its not that much. 20 teachers is still cheaper than one equipped police car. All they would be required to do is attend the same in-service training and qualifications as the officers do, since they are police officers. Most depts only qualify on the range, once a year, due to budget constraints. Most people I know with CCW permits, shoot almost every weekend, either for fun, or in IPSC or other type matches, and are better shots than the officers.
This again, was just my take on the matter, and being retired Law Enforcement seems like a sound approach for minimal capital outlay. Proposing this 10 yrs ago, or even 5 would have been crazy. But in todays world, it is a very strong possibility. The big point.. they would be academy trained police officers.. same training, liability and knowledge as the officers responding, but already onscene. They would need incentive, so a salary bonus would be practical. Currently in the RIO academy now, is a Surgeon, ER Doctor, ER Nurse and ER Tech. All training to carry on duty with the hospitals knowledge and backing.. Hospital is even paying the $1000.00.. They will also be used to go with the SWAT teams when they are called out to do immediate triage on victims, officers or bad guys. I also know a primary care physician who carrys 24/7, while working or not, under his coat. No one has to know....
