Today, President Trump held a listening session with the survivors and families of victims of gun violence. He hosted the event at the White House and asked his guests to share their tragic stories and throw out ideas for possible solutions to the gun violence epidemic. The session was scheduled in response to the heartbreaking shooting last week at Stoneman Douglas High School.
During the proceedings, Trump brought up the absurd idea that the best way to prevent school shootings is to arm teachers. Republicans are willing to invent the most absurd “solutions” to this growing problem as long as it allows them to avoid talking about the real problem: guns.
Trump: "If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly, and the good thing about a suggestion like that — and we're going to be looking at it very strongly…but the good thing is you'll have a lot of [armed] people with that." pic.twitter.com/wGRSTDK38o
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2018
Teachers have enough to worry about as is without strapping a Glock to their waist. The suggestion is also made doubly ridiculous by the fact that many of our schools are grossly underfunded. Some can’t even afford heating or books, but now the Republicans suddenly think there is money to flood them with firearms? It’s a staggeringly stupid idea.
Twitter user @JoshuaGrubbsPHD, who purports to be a college professor, shredded Trump’s inane proposal. He introduced himself as a gun owner who has been around gun his entire lives before explaining that even if he, with all his expertise, wouldn’t feel comfortable using a firearm in a classroom. He then unleashed an epic tweetstorm, breaking the issue down into fine detail.
Guys, I’m a college professor.
I’ve also been shooting guns my entire life and own multiple guns now.
I don’t trust myself to be able to capably defend a classroom against a shooter, and I’m a good shot.
Why would we expect teachers everywhere to bear this responsibility?
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
When I go into a classroom, I don’t want to think about whether or not I’m going to need to shoot a student today to protect my class.
That’s not my job.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
Fun story:
I was born and raised in a GOP household.When I was 18, I registered as a Republican.
At 21, I applied for and obtained a concealed carry permit for the state of VA.
Around that age/time, I used to carry my Ruger SP101 .357 mag with regularity.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
I say this to illustrate that I am not one of those hypothetical "librul snowflakes!" that the right wing raves about. Yes, I'm a Democrat now, & yes, I believe in MUCH stronger gun control than we currently have, but I've got receipts. Public records can verify all of the above.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
So, let me make a few observations:
1). Carrying a firearm in public is anxiety provoking. It puts you in a mode that is not relaxed, nor should it be.
2). Concealed carry leaves you actively looking for threats.
3). Neither of those are conducive to educating.— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
I found carrying a gun distressing (immensely distressing) even when I was a right wing conservative gun nut who believed whole-heartedly in 2nd Amd. rights.
Even when I wanted to be that person, it left me on edge.
I can't educate like that, and I don't know anyone who can.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
So, regardless of the moral and ethical and practical barriers to asking teachers to carry firearms and protect their classes, it's just not feasible in general.
It's truly an incomprehensibly moronic idea that will only lead to more deaths.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
Teachers cannot operate in a mode of threat assessment all day every day. We cannot do that while educating, mentoring, and caring for our students. It's just not possible.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
I cannot go through my day wondering if I am going to be required to end another human being's life.
I can't go into my lectures looking through my classroom to determine which student I might need to execute before they kill someone else.
I can't do it.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
I don't say this to be dramatic. I'm being very authentic here. The goals of an educator are not compatible with the goals of a peacekeeper or an enforcer.
If someone tries to tell you otherwise, they are selling you a bill of good based on their own willful ignorance.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
I believe more strongly in 2nd amendment rights than many on the Left do.
Going the full Australian route on gun control is not a position I'm comfortable with.
But something's got to give folks.
We can't live in a society where everyone is expected to be ready to kill.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
What's the next logical step?
Doctors carrying a sidepiece with their stethoscopes? Chaplains carrying derringers in their holy books? Janitors with AR15's on their cleaning carts?
None of it makes sense and none of it will work.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
Until we find a way to either massively restrict access or to magically identify threats BEFORE they get guns, nothing will change.
More guns will never equal less death.
— Josh Grubbs (@JoshuaGrubbsPhD) February 21, 2018
