Letter: Anyone consider nonlethal weapons?

I am surprised, with all the banter on gun control and dilemma of balancing gun rights and children (or adult) safety in this world of firearms saturation, and mental instabilities that no one has mentioned nonlethal weapons.

To propose arming teachers or anyone else in schools or public places with lethal firearms just seems like an invitation for such weapons getting into the wrong hands, or assumes that such persons legally brandishing these weapons will never suffer a mental breakdown.

Having people in responsible positions having a nonlethal weapon (rubber bullets, pepper bullets, Tasers etc.) would seem to offer the same deterrence effect and potential for taking down the assailant with one added “extra” — it could not be used to kill innocents. Plus, it appears that most idiots that decide to perpetrate these killings want to be gunned down or otherwise end up killing themselves.

If they knew they could be incapacitated and incarcerated, who knows? Let’s fight fire with fire extinguishers.

Jeff Flynn

agronomist

Greenwell Springs

Comments

1) Comment by Attila - 06/01/2013

Maybe spitballs, pea shooters, and sling shots should be considered.

2) Comment by Being_Stupid - 03/01/2013

Pepper spray will not be effective. Need tasers.

3) Comment by Being_Stupid - 03/01/2013

Clarification/correction: armed security guards in not necessarily the ONLY answer, but it definitely helps.

4) Comment by Being_Stupid - 03/01/2013

1 or 2 armed security guards is not necessarily the answer. When Columbine happened back in 1999, the shooters were confronted by an armed security guard from the parking lot. Unfortunately he was not located inside the school and unable to stop the shooters once they entered the school building. However he did delay the shooters long enough from the outside for Dave Sanders and the janitors to evacuate the cafeteria. If more people had been armed inside that school like the janitors or if Pattie Nielson had a taser located under the librarian administrative desk she was hiding under they could have possibly stopped Columbine before it got worst (tasers were new back then). But when you advertise a place as No-Gun Zone, that is like inviting a mass murderer to come attack your place.

5) Comment by Being_Stupid - 03/01/2013

Teachers need to be armed with Tasers.

6) Comment by DMJ - 03/01/2013

He makes a good point about the suicidal nature of these random gunmen. These people are not scared of death; they welcome it. So to say that someone else there with a gun would deter them seems really stupid to me. Nonlethal weapons? .... not an all together terrible suggestion, Jeff. At least it's not as terrible as arming teachers with actual guns. As to the idea of arming a principal...dear lord. My principal was an old nun. Not sure Jesus would like her roaming the halls with a revolver, and I'm darn sure that such a scenario doesn't make anyone safer.

7) Comment by phil - 03/01/2013

Not a bad idea and maybe it should be considered.

8) Comment by jdk944 - 03/01/2013

Mr. Flynn, good points. I am for screening, training, arming and then monitoring two individuals in each school with revolvers. Preferably the Principal and one other. THEN arm the rest of the staff with Law Enforcement Pepper spray or something along the lines you suggest.

9) Comment by [e-mail] - 03/01/2013

Bighug is right; just take a look around and see who is protected by guns. All of the big liberals like Feinstien live behind guns that protect them while they moan and groan about gun control.

10) Comment by Bighug - 03/01/2013

Arming anyone in public places is a danger? I doubt you could sell that idea to politicians and judges who have armed guards, but then they aren't children. They are important people who deserve the protection, in their opinion.