After some billboard bullying by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, Hamilton City Schools will allow qualified staff members, including teachers, to carry guns in classrooms as a way to counter potential school mass shooters. Because what could possibly make students under fire from a mass shooter more safe? Why, obviously, the threat of being caught in a crossfire between the shooter and their teachers!
It's one thing to have armed police or security guards in a school. It's another for educators who aren't trained in tactical situations to be packing heat. While the "good guy with a gun" is a great slogan, it's not much more than that. Research has shown that more guns can lead to more gun injuries and deaths. It's hard for anyone to stop a shooter, especially someone not trained for it. And as we've seen, accidental shootings can happen even with trained law enforcement officers.
There could be better efforts to identify and help students who have mental health or other issues, so they won't get to a point where they feel they need to take up a gun. There could be better trained security. Community and law enforcement programs designed to help drive down violence. Even a rational conversation about the Second Amendment, the need for guns and — ah, who am I kidding?
Kevin Necessary is the editorial cartoonist for WCPO. His opinions do not reflect those of WCPO.
