Ohio school district plans to arm qualified teachers to address America's wave of school shootings
CALEDONIA, OHIO: A school district in Ohio claims it intends to try and address America's epidemic of school shootings by utilizing a new law that permits qualified teachers and staff to be armed. One of 23 school districts in the state making use of a law signed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2022, the River Valley Local School District in Caledonia will permit teachers in its four buildings to carry weapons after receiving the appropriate training.
Adam Wickham, the superintendent, said that he would only let his staff and pupils go with protection. Adam Wickham said, "Our schools will no longer be soft targets and unprotected. Most active-shooter events occur in areas of 'gun-free zones' or with minimal safety measures in place. We want to ensure our schools will not be soft targets."
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'Response times can often be minutes away'
In reaction to a prospective shooter in small-town Caledonia, which has a population of 560, Wickham emphasized the importance of responsible gun ownership. Wickham said to the Marion Star, "As a rural community, response times can often be minutes away in the event of an active shooter." He added, "The use of armed staff in our buildings can potentially save lives by providing a more immediate response to the threat." He mentioned, in particular, the recent killings that left several children and teachers dead in Nashville, Uvalde, and Parkland. He said, "[They] clearly show that the quicker the response time, the more likely you are to potentially save lives," as reported by DailyMail.
'Ensure our staff and students can go home safely'
The town's high school, middle school, and two elementary schools will all have school resource officers in addition to possibly armed staff members from the local sheriff's office. Wickham said, "Some have expressed questions about the training and selection process." He further added, "The vast majority of parents have expressed appreciation for the proactive approach in protecting their children. That is really a ensure our staff and students can go home safely," as reported by Marionstar.
Even though Wickham is aware that not everyone will support this, he nonetheless states that "every safety measure we take at River Valley, including the use of armed staff, is put in place to try and ensure our staff and students can go home safely to their families and loved ones each and every day."
DeWine approved House Bill 99 despite Democrats' claims that the measure, which is voluntary for schools, sends the wrong message and allows instructors to be equipped with 24 hours of training. According to DeWine, who announced his support for the legislation, it tries to protect kids by making sure the curriculum is tailored to schools and includes a large amount of scenario-based training.
Significant law enforcement organizations, proponents of gun control, and the state's teachers' unions all opposed the legislation and urged DeWine to veto it. A small number of police agencies and school districts back it. Wickham has vowed to uphold his school district's own regulation, which stipulates that anyone who wants to carry a weapon must complete 50 hours of training in total.