In the past weeks following the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida the mourning for the deceased and makeshift memorials dedicated to those lost are starting to fade away, and instead what is coming about is the usual debate on the decades old argument: what to do about gun control.
After sitting down with some of Oliver Ames High School’s teachers it became apparent that the individual ideas of those expressed were ones of anger, resentment, and confusion directed to those in Washington who pass legislation.
President Donald Trump has proposed many ideas about what should be done in both open cabinet meetings to the press and in his own tweets, but the one comment that he has made which stands out would be the idea to allow public schools to give a financial incentive to teachers and in return train and arm them with firearms.
“I think it’s a horrible idea”, said Mr. Sunderland, “I just don’t see how a teacher with no communication during a crisis with law enforcement will go roaming around looking for an active shooter.” Mr. Sunderland was steadfast in his opinion and ultimately stated that he would not participate in this if President Trump did allow this to become a reality.
“I strongly disagree with it,” said Mrs. Hynes. “I personally believe that fewer guns would create fewer problems.” In response to what Washington should do about gun control Mrs. Hynes stated that, “background checks. 100 percent. It just seems ridiculous that you (someone) would be against that.”
“I personally believe that fewer guns would create fewer problems.”-Mrs Hynes
“I just think it’s going to lead to too many problems”, said Mr. Johannessen. “It would frighten me and change the culture of the school”, he said in response to if he would want guns in the school. Mr. Johannessen concluded that it would make him very uneasy if his coworkers wanted to participate in this proposition by Mr. Trump were to be passed.
Mrs. Ayasse, a science teacher, stated that “it’s ridiculous. If there’s extra money it should be used for education, not for weapons…stop letting common citizens have serious weapons that should only be available for those who are professionally trained for a very specific purpose….and there should be legislation that prevents that.” When asked if she would take a different stance if she was not a teacher, she stated that “I don’t think so.”
“If there’s extra money it should be used for education, not for weapons”- Mrs. Ayasse
“I do not like the financial incentive part,” said Mr. Turgeon. “We look at all the times a mass shooting happens and see that more guns are not the solution. We need to weigh the facts here. You don’t know whats going to happen in a situation until you’re really there”. When asked about what should be done around gun control, he stated that “let’s reserve it (AR-15’s) to the police and military. Not civilians. No way.”
Regardless of differing opinions, It is needless to say that gun control is a continuously brought up topic in today’s society. It affects everyone and their lives, from school children and high school students to senators and representatives. If not fixed permanently, however, the only evident truth is that mass shootings will continue to happen.