To the Editor:
In a recent column, John Krull took State Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, and other gun devotees in the Indiana General Assembly to task for their support of a bill Lucas has authored to provide handgun training for Hoosier teachers. When I read Krull’s piece my mind wandered back to the 1970s to a TV sitcom called “All in the Family.” The star of the program was Carroll O’Connor, who played an unapologetic racist named Archie Bunker. In addition to being a racist, Bunker was highly opinionated and believed he had solutions for all of society’s problems.
A huge problem during the 1970s was the hijacking of airplanes, often by militant groups for political purposes. During the decade more than 70 hijackings occurred around the world. Bunker had a solution to prevent hijackings. His solution was “guns for everyone.” Specifically, he proposed that everyone on a flight be given a handgun upon entering the plane. Upon completion of the flight, the guns would be collected.
The bill proposed by Lucas is just as idiotic and simplistic. Guns in the classroom will only raise the anxiety level of students to unacceptable levels. Suicide rates among young people are already unacceptably high, and teachers carrying guns will only increase student fears. Besides, having teachers armed will not provide the protection Lucas seeks. Imagine the horror of a gun battle between an armed intruder and teachers in the halls of a school.
The problem of school safety is complex and it will take a complex set of protections to keep our children safe. These are available and many are being implemented around the country. The General Assembly should spend its time investigating more rational solutions to the problem of school safety and provide the money for school districts to implement them.
Jim Curry
Franklin
