US school trains ‘SWAT team’ of armed TEACHERS to shoot massacre gunmen in controversial scheme after Sandy Hook
A US high school has taken matters into their own hands as teachers are armed and trained to respond in the event of a school shooter – even if its one of their pupils.
The group of teachers is headed by a “resource officer” who patrols the hallways of the small-town school in Ohio with a gun.
France 24 reports how in the event of a school shooting, John Pence, the high school’s designated resource officer, and a group of volunteer teachers would spring into action.
All but one of the guns – John’s – are locked away in a safe, available only when opened with a finger-print scan of one of the designated teacher’s.
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They’re trained to take down a school shooter, regardless of who it is with Pence adding: “The other students being threatened, they have the right to go home to their parents that night too.”
Across the US, around 15 states have adopted a similar scheme as school shootings have multiplied.
Known as the “program,” the idea of arming teachers first came to the fore following the horrific Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012.
On 14 December 2012 mentally disturbed Adam Lanza, 20, shot and killed 20 children between the ages of six and seven at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
He also murdered six adult staff members, but as cops arrived at the school he shot himself dead.
Earlier he had shot and killed his mum, increasing the death toll to a horrific 27.
I like the idea. It makes me feel safe
Tom
Following the horrific attack and the disturbing revelation that once a shooter fires the first round, every 17 seconds after that a student will die, districts pushed for tougher measures.
The teachers now have access to 9mm Glock pistols and are specially trained to respond to school massacres, with refresher courses monthly.
Bob Humble, the superintendent of Sidney’s school district praises the trailblazing scheme, telling France 24: “[A shooter’s] goal is to get the highest body count they can in the shortest amount of time,” Humble says.
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“This is why I think the chances of this happening are very low now, simply because they know someone’s going to take them down in a hurry.”
He adds he thins the security team “is just common sense.”
One pupil at the school, named only as Tom said: “I like the idea. It makes me feel safe because I know they are specially trained if an intruder comes in and they are able to stop him.”