Gun Violence in the US

Since 20 children and six adults were shot dead in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012, similar gun-related incidents have occurred in 15 schools across the country, including last week in Oregon. The president and some lawmakers promised reforms, but few gun regulations have changed. In the meantime, school districts across the country and including the Buckeye State have been working on their own strategies. Some involve guns; some don’t. WOSU’s Tom Borgerding reported that The Ohio School Boards Association this summer began training school principals and other staff on how to respond to an active school shooter. Borgerding said that the experts stressed to him that time is critical during a shooting incident, and that subduing the shooter as quickly as possible saves lives. “What they have found in these active shooter incidents is that time is really critical,â€? Borgerding said. "The FBI analysis shows that when an active shooter shows up to a school, a victim is injured or killed every 25 seconds.â€? The Buckeye Firearms Foundation has trained some 300 teachers and administrators in recent months. BFF trainer Joe Eaton said that because school districts can’t afford to hire armed guards for every school building, arming teachers is the better option. “We’re not saying that we should have all the teachers out there armed,â€? Eaton said. “We’re looking for the ones that have this desire and have this love for our children, that they've already shown over and over they will die for our children. The only real solution that anyone has been able to come up with now is having an effective deterrent right there when the situation starts.â€? Tobey Hoover, of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, disagreed. She said that if anyone is armed in a school, it should be trained officers. “They're trained not only to handle firearms, but they are trained to interact with parents, teachers and children, and so that makes a huge difference,â€? Hoover said. Where do you stand on gun control? Should specially trained teachers be allowed to carry guns in school? Listen to the full hour of the show.

Guests

• Sony Shepherd, senior analyst at Safe Havens International
• Tobey Hoover, representative for Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence
• Joe Eaton, representative from the Buckeye Firearms Foundation