Instead of More Guns in Schools, Arm Us With...

Governor Snyder, Lieutenant Governor Calley, Attorney General Schuette and Members of the Legislature

In her recent Detroit News column, MEA President Paula Herbart wrote the crisis of school violence and the need for comprehensive solutions and continued attention focused on keeping children safe.

"What isn’t a solution?" she wrote. "Allowing more guns in schools – something Michigan lawmakers have discussed with frightening frequency. The Michigan Senate recently passed SB 584 and SB 586, which would force our schools to allow hidden, loaded handguns – whether our local communities like it or not. Allowing civilians to carry firearms in schools will only make our children less safe. The only people who should have a gun in a school are trained law enforcement officers. Period."  

According to the Detroit Free Press, some lawmakers are considering even more legislation that would arm educators.

Join with other school employees and parents in making that message clear to Gov. Snyder, Lt. Gov. Calley, Attorney General Schuette and the Legislature: Classrooms are places for learning, not places to worry about gunfire.

Instead of more guns in schools, we need to arm educators with real solutions. Solutions like more school counselors and social workers, smaller class sizes, better school security measures and wraparound services to help students and families.

Add your name to our petition against concealed weapons in schools -- and share your ideas about real solutions by answering, "Instead of more guns in schools, arm us with..."

To: Governor Snyder, Lieutenant Governor Calley, Attorney General Schuette and Members of the Legislature
From: [Your Name]

We have no greater responsibility than keeping our children safe. The recent school shooting in Florida -- on top of the hundreds that have happened before -- reinforces that we need real change and real solutions to protect both students and school employees. We need comprehensive, common sense solutions, including reasonable gun laws, better access to mental health care, and adequate staffing and security for schools.

What isn’t a solution? Allowing more guns in schools. That would be the result of legislation like SB 584 and SB 586 -- forcing our schools to allow hidden, loaded handguns, whether our local communities like it or not.

Allowing civilians to carry firearms in schools will only make our children less safe. The only people who should have a gun in a school are trained law enforcement officers. Period.

We urge you to reject SBs 584-586 and any other bills that seek to arm educators and our communities with guns in schools. Instead, arm us with real solutions -- before any more students or educators suffer from the lack of action to address this crisis.