Detroit Talk City | Should teachers be armed?

Starting us on this Friday, October 16th, I'm your host, Charlie Langton. Welcome to Detroit Talk City. All right, let's get right into today's topics. We've got two teachers, school personnel, people with us here. One issue, and it's a massive divide over who should be packing heat near the chalkboard. Our first guest is Audrey. She's a tutor, works with a teacher, works with high school students. And she says arming teachers is the ultimate defense to keeping kids safe. Also, Metro Detroit teacher Kelsey Wiley, she says bringing guns into the classroom is a recipe for disaster. All right, that brings us to our poll question, our question of the day. Would you support arming trained teachers in school? Just scan that QR code. It's right down there on the bottom of your screen. We'll show you the results later on in the show. And this show, it's all about hearing from you, the viewer, who want to have a conversation. So here's how you can weigh in. Text us. Call us at 313-765-8844. You can also jump into the Zoom room. Our meeting ID number, 892-4909-0290. And, of course, on social media, hashtag us at Detroit Talk City. All right, Miss Audrey. You work with high school students. You're in the schools every day. You're a technically tutor, I guess, but you're teaching kids. They look to you. Do you feel safe in your school district? I have a great support system in my school district. They understand that guns are a part of our life, and we're protected under the Michigan Constitution as well as our national constitution. But as of the law, as I understand, in Michigan, you as a teacher, tutor, student, nobody can bring a gun into a school. we have a gun-free zone in schools. Is that a good policy? I don't think so. I don't think it's a good policy at all. I don't think that it should be something that is a direct no. And I feel that if an individual wants to have that opportunity in schools, they should. Even teachers? Even teachers. Now, I know that you are a professional shooter, You compete and you teach as well right not professional but yes i do i compete nationally yes in shooting yes so you know how to shoot yes suppose some people say though that having guns in schools kids could get them it would scare kids there's a whole bunch of arguments against it and it would have to be a change in the law why do you think that a gun is a good idea for a teacher to have i think it's a should be a personal choice is what I feel. I don't think that anyone should push guns on teachers. And I don't feel that teachers should absolutely be denied. But if you want it, but if no one's gonna push a gun, but if a teacher wanted to have a gun, if you want you, you're the best example. You know more about guns, you teach the stuff and you're a good shooter. You know the laws, you know, but if you wanted a gun right now, you can't have it. Sort of. So as I understand Michigan law, as I understand it, not being an attorney, but reading through the law, it sounds like I can possibly have a gun with permission from my principal. All right. So we have our resource officers, and our resource officers have some kind of law enforcement background, which incorporates more than just firearms. So they have the training from being police yeah and then i don't have that kind of training i have the firearms training but what i do with guns i have more experience that i am more proficient with guns than most law enforcement so and if and it should be that training if you and and that would allow you to have a gun it should allow you to have a gun it proficiency to me proficiency is better than training because training is uh you can pass a test yeah does that mean that you're proficient right you have to go out and shoot right but assuming a teacher for a minute what's a benefit what do you think a benefit uh is of having a gun a teacher have a gun it's going to help with confidence, as I train, I work with teachers who want to shoot, uh, who feel that they are going to be judged for handling guns and so they come to me on the side and they say, hey, you know, I want to learn how to shoot. So I help them. And when it comes to that kind of thing, it builds their confidence. It's good for them because they're going to understand how guns function, what they sound like, the different kinds of guns because the news said long gun. So what is a long gun? Do you know? No, there we go. So right, not a pistol, right? But in the state of Michigan, a pistol is 26 inches or less. But either way, you can't have a pistol or a long gun in Michigan, though. Let me ask you, how do you answer the question that having a gun in the classroom, it could be dangerous? If a teacher got mad, for example, or if a kid, you teach high school kids, they're a lot bigger than you. They could overpower you. What about that, the fact that a kid, a student, could get your gun? Does that worry you? What about our teachers that are stabbed, that are choked, that are beat by students? What about that? Well, it happens, but what about when we take away that element? Yes, you're going to be choked and stabbed. I get it. Yes. But a gun, though, isn't it more? And then where do you store your gun? Okay, so the gun would be lethal force, right? Yeah. So that's a whole different ballgame. And where would you store it? I think that would be up to the discretion of the school district and what they feel they're comfortable with. There's lots of options that they could have. Access to a lockbox. there's retention holsters, meaning that there's a locking system on the holster itself that requires manipulation. You're talking about an open carry? An open carry? No. Strap out a gun and go teach math? Go teach algebra with a gun? I mean, that's going to scare some of these kids, isn't it? Do you think so? I think it might. Have you talked to students? Well, I mean, in general, yes. I've read about it. One of the arguments against having guns is that your kids are going into an armed society, and that some of them may be afraid, especially if the teacher gets mad, you know? If a teacher gets mad and they're strapped with a gun to their side, I'm just saying, I know gun professionals don't want that, but would you worry about that? That's not a no, obviously, because you'd be a fool to assume, right? So education and training follows through, and you're working with professionals. And if you have a teacher that has that kind of an attitude, why would that person be at your building in the first place? Well, true, but you never know, though. You never know. Yeah, and then outside of school, even here, just talking to you briefly, we talked about Fox 2 is gun-free. Gun-free. It is. You can't bring your gun in here. You are in the same boat as I am. That's right. Yeah, so if we're in the same boat, what's the strategy? This is a private organization, though. it's not public and we have a guard outside we have a guard inside all the doors are locked let's take a call okay okay uh by the way our number is 313-765-8844 let's go to tracy from warren you're on detroit talk city hello tracy hello um as a ccw carrier holder myself and i do have school-age children i thought for a number of years now that it should be an option for teachers and i do think it's protection and if you're properly trained and you know what to do um i don't really see it being a big issue and i would rather the teachers um be armed and go down shooting trying to save people just like i would do in public myself i think it should be an option but there's no movement right now uh in michigan to do that but you obviously agree with tracy then right that's i see it as individuals that's how i see it so if we have the arm the teacher push um i've been exposed to that i feel that's a little bit pushy uh i think though that if an individual wants the opportunity to carry for protection that they should not be denied let's go to anne from detroit you're on detroit talk city hello anne whoops go ahead go ahead anne yes this is anne hi anne what's your question i would like to know how would this actually impact the union? How would it impact the salary of teachers? And if it is put in place, what mandatory training would be required? Good question. Would you have special? That's a great question. So certification doesn't mean qualification. And I'll tell you right off, because I teach people all the time to handle guns, shoot guns. I teach people that are afraid of guns that have been through all kinds of traumatic events. And it really is something that we're we have to work through you need special training if you're a teacher you have a gun so if a teacher has a gun then they're that's their lethal force i mean it is lethal force so we have to follow laws and as a cpl holder that's awesome congratulations i consider cpl holders elite because they have been through a whole day of training that others don't have to hold that thought audrey should teachers have guns this is the part of the show we want to hear from you. You can text us or call us, 313-765-8844. We'll get them right on the air or on the air at Detroit Talk City. Back in a moment. So you want to Zoom on Fox 2? We want you to Zoom on Fox 2, but we want to make you look and sound really, really good. So four easy steps. First of all, take the phone and turn it on its side. We want you to fill up the entire screen. Then you've got to look around and you've got to find the light. Remember, we want the light in front of you not behind you that's good and then on the zoom mic we want all of Detroit to hear you and finally turn down the television like i'm gonna do right now we want to hear you not the tv all right let's review these easy steps first flip it light it unmute it turn down the tv and then you are ready to Zoom. Remember, you can be a part of Fox 2's Detroit Talk City and the Sports Office. Just Zoom in live. Detroit Talk City, I'm your host, Charlie Langdon. Should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom? We want to hear from you. Text us, call us, 313-765-8844. Join this in the Zoom room as well. 892-4909-0290. You know the numbers right there. All right. Audrey, she's a tutor. She is a teacher in there. She works with teachers in the high school. We're not going to say the school district right now. You don't want to say the school district, do you? It's okay. We won't do that. It doesn't matter to me. All right. You want to say it, Hey Charlie? That's fine. I just said it. All right. Anyway, she works in the schools with high school, and she is also proficient in guns. She's won competitions and all kinds of things. Let's go to the phones right now. Dee from Southfield, joining Detroit Talk City. Hello, Dee. Hey, good afternoon, good afternoon. Absolutely not. Do not arm teachers. You have armed security guards, and that's enough. Too many things happen for children to get a hold. Your bullets are supposed to be separate from the gun. How is the teacher going to do all that? Their job is to teach. Security in the schools is enough. Well, you do make a point though. Put a security guard in the front. You're good to go. Teachers don't need guns. Are you okay with that? Well, I just got done chatting with Charlie over the advertisements. And what I can tell you is that my resource officers shoot with me because they need to work on their proficiency and I supersede them. You're better than you're better than the cops in your school. Cause you know, due to funding though, due to funding, because And for law enforcement to be able to really get smart about guns, they have to be able to afford the ammunition and the training. And privately, they pay out of pocket to go beyond what their departments allow for training because they're limited in funding. So for me, I do it because I love it and I'm proficient. So that way, if my resource officers come and shoot with me to get better, who do you want to have the gun? But the issue is, I mean, we get to pass a proficiency test. Nobody's saying teachers should be instructed, right? And they should have a proficiency test, right, to have a gun, right? But if a guard is there, assuming the guard's good. Assuming the guard is good. Well, let's make good guards. You don't need teachers or the guards. All right, let's take another call. Lisa from Detroit. You're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Lisa. Good afternoon. Hi, Lisa. What's your question? How are you? Everything is good today, Lisa. I thank God. But I do say, yes, at this point in time, things are getting really, really crazy. And I feel that it would be a good idea to at least give the teachers some form of advantage, not advantage, but some form of control just in case something crazy happens. Like we just heard about a six-year-old child going in with a gun and shooting someone. but neither here nor there times are really really crazy and i feel that yes they should have the opportunity to be flat out trained and use it at the school yeah it'd be and for safety purposes so you agree with Lisa that so thank you for the call when we talk about training uh what helps is even if teachers don't want to carry even if they don't want to have the gun in school if they're supportive of it then that's great when we talk about the education and training side of it um it it's uh kind of falls on perspective as to where's the limit uh we look at time and funding and then we look at uh how many times have you taken a test and then forgot what you even studied in the first place so we want good people good security guys that can shoot and good teachers that can shoot. It's voluntary. It's not, it's not, we're not, it's not mandatory. I think that's the issue. Let's take another call from Ms. Stevens from Warren here on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Ms. Stevens. Hello, Charlie, and to Ms. Audrey. My point was this. Ms. Audrey, make a valid point. Being equipped and knowing how to use a gun is wonderful. But my thing is this. Would the teachers, would that be included in their pay? You know, like, you know, like a signing bonus? If you're going to be a teacher, we're going to pay you your check plus give you a gun with ammunition and training because those teachers nowadays, they use their own money for the resources for the students. And then the second thing is why can't we consider self-defense classes so at least they can keep a child calm, whether they're coming from behind or trying to grab them in the front. At least they can know how to put them down with self-defense courses. All right. Miss Stevens, hold that thought. Audrey, hold that thought. We're going to get to the answer. We've got to take a quick break, though. 313-765-8844. That is the number. Should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom? We'll pick it up after the break. Fit right in. Detroit Talk City, I'm your host, Charlie Langton. Should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom? I don't think it was forcing the teachers to have guns, but should teachers voluntarily have the right to have guns? Might that have prevented something in Oregon or in any across the country? I read that there's over 30, between 36 and 80, the numbers are a little skewed, of shootings in schools this year across the United States. Text us, call us, 313-765-8844. join us in the zoom room as well 892-4909-0290 audrey she is in the schools all the time high schools um miss uh um i think we have a caller could you answer the question about teachers getting extra pay if they had a gun i think that's a fast fantastic idea i thought you might like that i think it's a it's kind of a pitch dream that that would happen i think first we would have to have people willing to to uh start integrating carrying in our schools first before we would consider like supplementing with pay i think uh i i would be willing to not take any advancements or anything like that to be able to have the opportunity because right now uh this uh lockdown stuff is not so great i haven't read anything where the school district is paying teachers to have guns in 15 states that allow it but but there are some exceptions like hazardous duty pay yeah i don't think that's gonna happen all right let's go to uh gabe from Westland, you're on Detroit Talk City, hello Gabe, hey, how you doing? Charlie, good, good. Hey, I just have a comment, um, I think the onus and the responsibility starts first with uh parents, you know, the mother, fathers, we have to prepare our children to go to school every day better in order that these types of instances like with teachers having guns and things of that nature would even be necessary. And that's the way I feel about the situation So if I can carry concealed, then it wouldn't even be a visual issue. Guns are considered an attractive nuisance in courts for our youth and a lot of it has to do with they just don't know. It's an unknown to them. So it makes them more curious We have the safe storage laws now that are happening in Michigan where you have to keep the guns locked up, you're responsible parents will be prosecuted and that's a good law, you're okay with that, aren't you? I am, it's it's already starting to be abused because the parents are not locking up the guns, well no it's already starting to be abused because now we have anti-gun groups that are integrating into the Michigan Department of Education so we just received a mass email about safe storage our whole school staff did with a live link to an anti-gun group to educate us on guns so this is the kind of stuff we're dealing with, you just never know, let me get one call is Janina from Detroit, you're on Detroit Talk City, hello there, do we have is Janina? We don't that's okay, so as we're talking about this kind of stuff we have teachers who don't like guns so what do we do about that? We have teachers who don't have the they don't have the known so if they learn about how guns function what kind of guns they are what they're capable of, I hope that that would help build some confidence so that they understand where our buildings are typically brick they're the safest buildings you can be in we've got i hate to do it so i gotta take you out audrey thank you for being here i appreciate that speaking of teachers that don't like guns we've got one should teachers to be allowed to have guns in the classroom. We'll talk about that coming up after the break. Detroit Talk City, I'm your host, Charlie Light. And I should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom. That is what we're talking about right now. That is our topic of the day. We also want to go into our Zoom room and our thing. Where's our where's our ball? I don't see it over there it is would you support arming trained teachers in the school that is our question of the day right there uh weigh in on that one and we'll give you the results a little bit later on in the show all right there's a number to call it is uh 313-765-8844 again that zoom room number is 892-4909-0290 all right let's welcome here kelsey wiley she is a teacher i could say where you're teaching right now? Is that all right? You can take Metro Detroit. Metro Detroit. Let's just do Metro Detroit. All right, Kelsey. Generally speaking, you're a teacher. You don't want guns in the classroom. No, at this point in my career, I don't think it would make me or my students feel safer if teachers were armed. I do believe that if we have school resource officers, where that is their training, that's their background, that's their certification. Those are the trusted adults I want to be armed in a building, not myself. Do you feel safe in the classroom? I do. Yeah. At no point have I- Is it because of the resource officer? I think there's a lot of factors. I think when there are protocols in place to ensure safety. So at my school, there are metal detectors, they are scanning, they're searching. There are the procedures in place that make sure that kids are not bringing in potential weapons or adults are not bringing in the weapons. Adults also have to go through those machines. They do not get a pass to walk around that. So we have the procedures in place to protect our kiddos. Now again, a school resource officer, that is their job. That's what they're trained to do. Not I. People say that teachers, voluntary, nobody's forcing it, but some say that if the teachers had a gun, that's a protection not only for the teacher, but for the class. And if a school shooter comes in, they're on the first offense. They could maybe prevent a bigger tragedy. I would love for that to be true. My biggest concern, though, is just thinking about, you know, we're looking at the statistics. If the NRA says that teachers should not be armed, and not because teachers are not going be qualified for it, it's because it makes it confusing for law enforcement to identify the perpetrator. I'm gonna take it from the NRA if the National Rifle Association says teachers should not be armed. Where I'm like, I appreciate that disclosure from them. I thought they were only one of two groups that want teachers to have guns. No, I- There is that argument though, I've heard that. Right. How do you tell the shooter from the teacher? And that makes sense. If I'm at a school with over 100 teachers, that would be very confusing for law enforcement if you had multiple adults, if not all 100 adults suddenly armed. What about the Second Amendment right, second right to have an arm, assuming that you can get proper training, you're vetted, you're proficient, etc., etc. Let's assume all of that, that you know how to use the weapon. What about the right to have a second right inside a school? See, that's where I, we have to talk about the law, right? If a school is a no gun zone, right, it's a safe zone. Which is your school. Right, it's gonna be my school. All schools in Michigan. We would have to change the legislation. And I do believe that as a private citizen, by all means, you have the right. That is guaranteed by the Constitution. Is that in my contract? Like, I'm thinking on the union, is that in my contract? But it's not, it'd be not mandatory, though. I would think it'd be optional, though. Yeah, I think we- We'll take that way out of your contract. I know, we'll protect my labor rights there. Protect that right. I do think, though, there has to be changes in the legislation to permit that. There would be. Right, there would have to be changes. If you're trained, I would just like to know as the adult who is armed in my building. I don't want it to be a discreet thing of like, yes, there are three adults. I would like to know who are those teachers, just for disclosure, right? Okay, here's a list. Here's a list right here. Ten teachers right here. And I would appreciate that disclosure. That would make me feel more comfortable. But again, I don't know if it's necessary for teachers. Because again, if we have school resource officers, that is exactly what they need to do. I do also just think about statistically just looking at every town, the organization who does a lot of research on gun violence. teachers are more likely to shoot a bystander than the actual perpetrator i do not want to be responsible or comfort a colleague or help grieve with the colleague if the wrong perpetrator is harmed let's take a call all right uh dennis from romulus you're on detroit talk city hello dennis hey how you doing charlie good yeah my my question was if if the students know the laws pass and it's okay for teachers to bring a weapon or a gun into the classroom what would deter them from bringing it in also oh so if the teachers are allowed to bring guns what would deter students from bringing guns oh yes sir oh well well i don't know there's any serious argument about students having guns i don't think so i think that would hopefully not happen i would really hope that's not the logic students perceive of you know rule for thee but not for me that is It's not how we apply gun laws in this country. I would be very worrisome if that was the case. But again, if your school has the proper protocol, they have security, they have resource officers, they have machines as students enter the building. We should be able to find students who are bringing arms into school and be able to deter that and intervene in time. And do you think though that if some, if you're, well, let's take another call. Let's take another call. Thank you for that one. Laura from Belleville, you're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Laura. Hi, how are you? Good. Good, good. I just, I don't know. I have mixed feelings about it. I really don't have problems with people having guns, first of all, if they're qualified and not insane. However, in the school system, if you have armed guards outside, and I do have to say it's very sad we have to, we're in a situation where we have to have that. but i have two of our children that work in the school system one is a school psychologist one's a middle school teacher and they spend so much time going through you know these drills for armed people coming in and shooting you know emergencies and um who's going to be responsible for a teacher who's vetting them i mean it's one thing to be able to shoot a gun and it's a completely different thing to be you know sane enough not to use it on one of your students because students do get violent yeah but they're children yeah no you make it you make it you make a good point yeah laura makes a good point i mean how do you vet the teachers even though you maybe it's okay if the laws change etc but uh how do you vet the teacher should that teacher have? Honestly, I think about just how we regulate guns in general. I think there needs to be like, if not habitual exams or testing, mental health screenings. I think all of those are really important because teachers are humans too. Sometimes teachers lose their marbles a little bit. We don't want them to make a choice that they will regret and harm students or, you know, another adult in the building. Hold that thought, Kelsey. We're going to continue this conversation. We do want to hear from you. Should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom? room. Text us, call us, 313-765-8844. We'll get to all of your calls on Detroit Talk City after the break. Detroit Talk City, I'm your host, Charlie Langton. Should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom? They cannot in Michigan, but because of certain issues that we've seen, gun shootings around the country, maybe it's time to revisit the issue. Kelsey Wiley is a teacher in the metro Detroit area teaching high school. She is with us. All right, let's take some text messages. All right, let's try this one right here. I think this entire conversation is eye opening. They have metal detectors inside schools all throughout black and brown communities, but not in majority white schools. What do you think about that? I'm so glad to this person who texted us because I would love to talk about this actually. I do think that we over police our black and brown schools, being in a school that is majority black and brown. We have a full metal detection process that feels very like TSA at the airport. I went to Plymouth Canton schools, a school of 6,000 kids. At no point did I walk through a metal detector in either of those three schools. Why do you think that is? I do think that we have to take in account for the gang violence that is occurring in Detroit. We also wanna consider what happens when we have higher concentrations of poverty, right? There are going to be higher rates of violence. Those are all things that are clear. But that justifies the need for a metal detector where if you have the opposite, you don't need it. Right, but also we want to consider where are most school shootings and violence happening. It could be anywhere. It could be anywhere. Hold that thought, Kelsey. I should, did teachers be allowed to carry guns? We're going to get to your calls when Detroit Talk City returns after the break. And I approve this message. back to Detroit Talk City, should teachers be allowed to have guns in the classroom text us call us with your questions or comments 313-765-8844 you can also jump in the zoom room 892-4909-0290 kelsey uh wiley is here a teacher in a metro detroit school right at teaching high school yes who basically says no, they don't need guns in the schools all All right, let's go to the phones. Sarah from Clinton Township. You're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Sarah. Hi, how are you guys doing today? Good. So listen, I say no. We do not need teachers taking guns in the classroom. But I am for more laws to hold the parents more accountable. Teachers need to be focusing on test scores, making sure that the supplies are there for the kids, and stop inappropriate behavior with young kids. those are the things teachers are supposed to be doing they're supposed to be teaching our kids they are not armed guards, guardsmen for hire they are there to teach let them teach if your school needs some security then i suggest maybe you hire more security but to put guns in the hands of teachers no let's put some books in there as a teacher so they can do what they're supposed to do. All right, Sarah. Thank you, Sarah, for that call. Appreciate that. More security guards. Would you be okay with that? I think as long as these are adults who are trained, they are certified, and they have good rapport with students, I think that's a huge discrepancy that people think, yes, more adults who have a badge are going to keep kids safe. But if they do not treat the students well, and that doesn't mean to be their friend, but to have a mutual respect with children is very important because kids will feel safe when you are a respected and respectful adult. That's less money in the classroom and more money for security. You're okay with that? No, I would love more money. I would love new books. Let's take another call. Carl from St. Clair Shores. You're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Carl. Hello, Spencer and Leon. Yeah, I just want to say, you know, they make guns safe with, you know, fingerprint or numerical codes that only they can get into. So if there's an active shooter there, you know, they can get to the gun. They can, you know, at least protect the kids while they're, you know, hiding, taking, you know, cover. So, yeah, it's, you know, there's, I guess, I'm sorry, that's what I got to say. No, you're right. I mean, Carl, I got a point there. That's, guns are controversial. What can we say? They're controversial. But if you're going to allow teachers to have guns, there could be a fear factor. There could be a whole bunch. But a lot of people who want the guns, they tell, and what I've read, is that it feels safer. And it makes you a better teacher because they f*** up to you. And if you have a gun, not only can you teach them and help them, you can protect them. And that's a good thing. Do you believe that? You know, I would argue that I already protect my students without a gun. And I say this in complete honesty. Just two hours ago, one of my kiddos was saying she was thinking about taking her life. And I think about me being armed is not going to protect her, but I have to take this to proper protocols to protect her mental health. So I'm a mandatory reporter. I gotta escalate this. I gotta contact her counselor, talk to our social worker. There are things that I can do to protect kids. I'm not gonna use a gun. I don't need a gun to do that work to protect kids. Protect is an umbrella, right? There's a lot of ways to protect our kids. For me, guns are just not going to cut it for me in my work. But if you are trained, if you're certified, you, as the woman before was saying you have to be qualified and proficient if you have that skill by all means that is not in my playbook you just you get a raise for all that extra work you're doing wow good for you joe from detroit you're on detroit talk city hello joe hello i do not believe teachers should be carrying guns in school absolutely not they are there to teach if they if there's a problem in the school such as someone's coming in they need more security officers in schools that are qualified to carry a gun and to see most people going to run from gunfire if you're trained to do what you're supposed to do then you go to the gunfire teachers are not trained for that don't get false confidence that you just can go out there and shoot. I carry a gun every day, but I'm aware when I fire that gun, that doesn't mean the bullet going to hit where it's supposed to hit. No, keep guns out of the schools from the students and the teachers. Thank you, Joe. I appreciate the call. But some say, though, if a teacher had a gun, the teacher could prevent further damage because it does take the police. Oregon, they did a great job, and in two or three minutes they were there. But that's two or three minutes though, still. Right. I mean- Is that a good argument to have a- I think it is fair. So again, if you're trained, if you're certified, if it's stored safely, we can open that conversation. But I also think about instances like Parkland, Uvalde, you had adults who were armed on those grounds who did not intervene in time. And that's like, I still think about Uvalde, I've been teaching for nine years, we've had a lot of school shootings in my career, Uvalde still sticks with me in my heart because so many of those kiddos could have been saved had adults intervened in time, and yet they loitered on the grounds. Neil from Detroit, you're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, Neil. Hey, Charlie. How you doing, my boy? Good. Good. Yes. I'm gonna direct this to that teacher. Okay. Hi. Hi, how you doing? I'm well, thank you. I'm good. I'm gonna say yes. you know uh to the guns uh just saying suppose that the police doesn't get there in time right while we have a lone gunman in the school so how is we gonna protect these kids from getting hurt that's where it kicks in, so if they come to your classroom and these kids are in there you that's when you get your weapon and you protect the kids not to take anything away from no one, but protect the kids. Now, I heard everybody comment on Charlie's Station. And for me, I used to work at Vernon Elementary School. And I see where you're going with this at. But at the same time, how are you going to protect those kids? Which is exactly what happened in Oregon, too. I mean, I think about the training we receive as teachers. You call it ALICE training. I can't tell you what it stands for. But typically, what they tell us is run, hide fight I am on a higher floor in my building which means I really can't run down the floors in order to get outside so my option is to hide or to fight I'm prepared to fight but I again like I have a lot of scissors in my classroom we'll do a lot of crafting in my room I am not prepared to use a firearm against the perpetrator but my kiddos and I we can throw chairs we have scissors we have books like I am prepared to fight that's not to say I'm going to just let my kiddos and I be slaughtered just because I don't use a gun myself. But I also don't think, I think I can still protect my kiddos without being armed. You say there are other options for protection besides a gun. There are always other options, for sure. All right, let's hear from Cindy from Macomb. She writes this, Cindy from Macomb here, at my grandson's school in Texas, they have armed security guards at the elementary school. I often see security guards when I'm there. The parents sign up and go through background checks to monitor the halls throughout the day. This is an elementary school, and it's in Flower Mound. It's Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas. A lot of security guards, more than three security guards. But I also love that parents have a presence. I think that goes a long way for parents to have a presence, not only will your kids not act up if your parent is there, But it also feels that the community has buy-in to protect you as well. They're there to make sure that you're going to class. They're there to make sure that you're eating your lunch, you're taking care of the space. But you're also safe. And I think when you have trusted adults who have good rapport with students, that will help deter any violence. Or also just, again, giving kids the reassurance that they're safe in these buildings. Do you worry that if I'm a criminal and I'm going to go to a school or church, a gun-free zone, because nobody there has got a gun? Right, no one's going to be armed. So I'm gonna make a statement, and I'm gonna go out where the guns could be. I'm gonna go to a school. Do you worry about that, that if the teachers could have guns, the criminals may say, I'm gonna go here. I'm not gonna make that statement. I guess that would not really occur to me again, because we have resource officers. They're there at the front door. If you decide to bust into a school building, who are the first people you're gonna meet? Security. You're gonna be very surprised and probably confused and disappointed. Let's take another text. Definitely in favor of teachers being trained and armed, but concerned that there will be adequate protections in place to prevent unauthorized access to the weapon. Could biometrics be part of the solution? Yeah, that's another good point. The access to the weapon. How are you going to carry the weapon? Are you going to open carry it? Are you going to store it? What are you going to do with it? That is an issue. That is an issue. What do you think about that? I think, again, if we have the trained, certified teachers and we have a means of storage, I do not think teachers should be openly carrying. That would be terrifying. Kids are in your space all the time. They can easily, you know, grab that. But if it's in storage, biometrics would be great. But also, we've got to make sure we keep up with that because what happens when a teacher retires? Who has the code to get into those safes? Like, there just has to be procedures in place to protect them. Let me see if I can get one more. 30 seconds. John from Brownstown. You're on Detroit Talk City. Hello, John. Hi, Charlie. Hi, Charlie. Go ahead. Go ahead, John. What's your question or comment? All right. Teacher brings a gun to school and they're having a bad morning and insecurely they're walking in school itself and it falls out of their pocket or falls out of her purse, accidentally shoots a co-worker or a kid who's liable. Is the school liable? Is the teacher liable? I mean, they make mistakes, too. Oh, I forgot. I was grabbing my coffee and I forgot I didn't snap my buckle or whatever. That's true. That's a problem. And liability raises a good issue. It sure is, which is why you need an attorney at your district level to figure that out. Kelsey, thank you so much. Thank you. The discussion will continue on guns in schools. I appreciate that. All right, stay with us. We've got results of our poll, our question of the day. When we come back. Welcome back to Detroit Talk City. Now the time for the results of our question of the day, our poll. Would you support arming trained teachers?