No guns on school grounds

It appears that our society’s solution to the problem of gun violence or the threat of gun violence is virtually always a call to introduce more arms into the environment. This idea is based on the notion that the only way to stop a “bad guy with a gun” is to have a “good guy with a gun” on the scene. This idea has long been promoted by the NRA and the gun lobby. It has even been suggested in some circles that classroom teachers be armed.

As a retired public school teacher, I object in the strongest of terms to the idea of allowing weapons or armed personnel of any kind on school premises. I believe gun violence in our culture is the result of a very unhealthy attitude toward gun ownership which pervades society. In my view, this attitude must undergo some major changes before we will be able to make the progress that is so desperately needed on this issue.

Miguel Melbin

Spokane