Sandy Hook Ongoing: Weaponizing Teachers

In the holiday news vacuum and the aftermath of Sandy Hook, there have been more than a few stories about school teachers across the country receiving gun training.  Certainly it’s depressing to witness overworked teachers and school staff not just having to spend the time but, worse, assuming the burden and risk of deputies. If some photos, like the one above, are thoroughly in-your-face, others are beyond ironic.

This picture is notable not just for what it shows, but for what it might otherwise show. Considering America’s dismal global education rankings, it begs the question where the photos and stories are of new classroom hires being trained to illuminate the biology or human anatomy.

(photo: George Frey/Getty Images caption 1: A Utah teacher is shown how to handle a handgun by instructor Clint Simon (R), at a concealed-weapons training class to 200 Utah teachers on December 27, 2012 in West Valley City, Utah. The Utah Shooting Sports Council said it would waive its $50 fee for concealed-weapons training for Utah teachers. caption 2: Firearm instructor Clark Aposhian teaches a concealed-weapons training class to 200 Utah teachers on December 27, 2012 in West Valley City, Utah. The Utah Shooting Sports Council said it would waive its $50 fee for concealed-weapons training for Utah teachers.)