On Sunday, the Grand Rapids Press ran a story about new legislation proposed by Grandville Representative Dave Agema in the Michigan House of Representatives that would allow teachers to carry handguns inside of schools and classrooms. According to the Press, Agema believes that "right now, the only people who enter school with guns are people who intend to do harm." Agema further said that armed teachers would make students and terrorists "think twice" about attacking a school.
The Press reported that Agema is framing the legislation as an "option" that would allow school employees to carry concealed weapons in the classroom if they get the approval of their school administrator. Agema explained the rationale as being recent school shootings, asserting that the shootings at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech University would have been less likely to have happened. Agema is quoted saying "if one of the teachers had a CCW (concealed weapons) permit, they could have saved many lives," although he offers no proof for his assertion. He further claimed that terrorists have considered targeting schools, with Agema claiming "'I've talked to some people. They say that could be what they're [the terrorists] planning for us here."
Agema said that he expects that his legislation will receive considerable opposition, especially from the Michigan Education Association, an entity that Agema has previously criticized. While his legislation has received fourteen Republican co-sponsors, it was criticized by everyone cited in the Grand Rapids Press article. Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Bernard Taylor said, "it hurts to hear we've come to this, that we're so afraid of children that we think we need to be armed to work with them." Similarly, security officials at both Rockford Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools dismissed Agema's plan, with Grand Rapids Public Schools Security Chief Larry Johnson saying, "it's a ridiculous bill."
During his campaign, Agema made "education" one of his major issue areas along with "right to life," "employment," and "immigration." This legislation is the first that he has proposed relating to "education," although it has nothing to do with his stated concern over increasing the cost "efficiency" of the schools nor does it focus on the quality of education in Michigan.
This is very scary; my girlfriends son attended Grandville schools and he is a mixed child but his skin is dark. He is a good kid but is not very excited about school and so he is treated as if he were a thug because he does not fit in the box. With the attitudes I have seen at this school I would be afraid that if they were allowed to carry guns they would possible threaten him with a gun or worse. This article is very chilling and I would hope that this will bring to light the militant attitude this representative has and remember this on voting day.
What is wrong this this man's head? He must have totally lost his mind. The last thing our schools need in them are guns. This man frightens me. If this law was to pass, I would pull my daughter from the public school system. Even my 13 yr old daughter made comments that this would scare her and she would not feel safe. Those are strong words to hear your child say. This man needs to be stopped. This law can not pass in any way, shape or form.