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Harrold School District Superindendent David Thweatt on why the Texas school district chose to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons since 2007.
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A growing number of states say they will consider a loss armed teachers after the tragedy at sandy hook elementary school my next guest school district.
As permitted teachers to carry concealed guns at school since 2000 -- Joining us now.
Superintendent for The Herald school district in Texas David -- David it is first -- garden.
Sort of -- to be with a son or as great agreement can be used to travel as borrowers must hat you're you've had futures with guns were about long.
How is that working and what is the reaction in your community and our around the state.
It's working great Lou we my guess that we passed in an October of 07 reaction to the Pennsylvania Amish shooting and Virginia attack and we thought that was enough impetus to try to go ahead and get this started.
And we have that we have what we call the guardian plan we have for elements they have to have a CHL they have to.
Be approved by our local school board they have to undergo training and then they finally -- used friend -- ammunition which is ammunition breaks apart but it is hard objects so.
We've been we've we've had this in place since October of 07 and it's going well.
That consider to be non lethal.
Bullets.
And the idea that.
That some are raising right now that it's on.
It's on national that we would have armed guards for example or armed teachers and schools because it would upset the children how do you react -- Well I I think that's just silly first of all.
There are guns in the status quo -- there there's resource officers and police officers and inside our schools and so all I did -- come up with an alternative plan and that was.
To train personality it says employees it's not just teachers employees throughout the school -- this does.
Is gives us some redundancy we don't have that one person who's gonna get the flu or -- -- to launch and be missing.
An action like a security guard we have a strategically placed throughout the building so therefore we have.
Good protection for our kids.
And in our our hope that you'd ever after news -- -- that system out ever.
Your level of confidence and it and those who are armed -- your school which -- schools.
God absolutely.
You know how did get.
It is.
It's something that has to have been done since 1990 I think that's what caused -- he's gotten.
Free zones and it created the problem to -- two years ago and now we're just trying to fix that problem.
-- have you heard from other school district saying how did how did you do.
How did you carry out your program.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- right absolutely yeah from all over Texas all over the United States.
Lawmakers and other states to try to write legislation.
So yes I have been in touch with many people over the last two weeks.
And what you -- -- say but the fact is having teachers and having those there resource officers whomever may be.
On -- ground.
If that's got to be a real comfort to parents isn't it.
It is and -- and it was before but it really was.
You know -- week ago when average -- this tragedy occurred whenever all of our parents and it really was kind uninteresting because now we have.
You know Facebook and many other social media and they just lit up.
Saying thank you for having the foresight to protect our kids and on that day many schools across the nation went into lockdown.
We didn't.
And.
You know that's that speaks such volumes because there -- law enforcement in this country I think is absolutely terrific.
But the time necessary to call the police to call law enforcement in with the best response.
So much can happen so much that is tragic before they can -- be seen it it's just unrealistic to expect them.
Two to be able to prevent -- those treasuries -- as if you're armed in the first instance you have that opportunity.
Right and and in just like you say that the tragedy -- today took a less than three or four minutes.
Fort Hood took three -- Virginia Tech about nine minutes people don't understand and -- as you -- police officer heroes they don't receive enough tribute.
But we have to say that they can't be there on time 951995%.
Of the time well.
We certainly appreciate you David being here we appreciate everything -- done or your from your folks that are of Texas appreciate all you've done your setting.
An example and it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the nation response.
They -- three thank you so much.
Thanks a lot appreciate and a happy safe new year to you and all of your charges.
Up net.
