WISCONSIN — As school shootings continue to rock communities across the United States, schools, parents and legislators have sought to implement measures that will keep children safe.

One controversial idea has been to give our teachers guns at school. But most Wisconsin Patch readers who responded to our survey opposed the measure. The survey was not intended to be a scientific poll, but designed to give a broad idea of public sentiment in the Badger State.

About 86.5 percent of respondents said "No" to our question "Do you support arming teachers in school?" About 13.5 percent said "Yes."

Of the people who took our survey, 77.5 percent said they did not currently have kids in school, while 22.5 percent said they did. Almost 90 people responded to the Wisconsin survey.

Why People Said No To Arming Teachers

"They are trained to teach, not to be a soldier," wrote one respondent. "Arming teachers would not make them approachable by a child with learning or personal problems. Teachers are not paid enough to be trained assassins. Even trained police failed in protecting the children in Uvalde!"

"That puts an added burden on teachers and fear plus guns will result in students being shot by teachers," wrote another respondent. "Students can steal a teacher's gun and harm someone. A handgun is no match for an assault weapon in a face-to-face situation. Furthermore, we will lose good teachers to other careers in which they don’t have to manage a weapon."

Another reader said "we already have a shortage of teachers, this will force even more out of the profession."

One reader who said they are a teacher said they would leave the profession and pull their kid out of school if guns were introduced to classrooms.

Another respondent who said they were a retired teacher called the idea "insane." They wrote there is no way they would have ever carried a firearm in a classroom or any other school setting, and would never do it in the future.

Many respondents raised a similar point: "It's not their job," one person wrote.

Why People Are In Favor Of Arming Teachers

Some people argued that arming teachers could be critical in times when seconds count.

"If they are trained properly they will save more lives than the police," one reader said. "If the shooter knows a teacher might have a gun it could be a deterrent."

"To protect lives; less time waiting for law enforcement to arrive and the schools are not such an easy target," a different respondent wrote.

Two people who responded said they would support it for teachers who wish to carry firearms.

"Our children need to be protected at all costs," another wrote.

What Else Can Change To Protect Students

"Strong mental health support, collaborative relationship building learning experiences, and support teams and reporting structures to identify students who isolate or have other concerns," one reader wrote. "Strong relationships with local police. Legislative avocacy with teachers unions to ban assault rifles and reduced threshold to hold people who are at risk to harming self or others. This will also help address suicide and DV."

Many readers supported making sure entryways are secure while some suggested more security guards or metal detectors. Some readers said the security in place in their school district is already good.

"On site, full-time police person," one reader wrote, "kids should see friendly police persons."

"Metal detectors at all entrances," another reader wrote. "Lock entrances during school & after school activities. Armed guards at all entrances. Bullet proof window glass."

Do you think Wisconsin teachers should be armed? Let us know in the comments section below.

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