Why Arming Teachers Won’t Stop School Shootings

There is a myth in American culture of the heroic gunslinger, a character who saves the day by being quick on the draw. Popular imagination typically associates this with the Old West, thanks in no small part to influential novels and films that have commonly depicted shootings at high noon, grizzled sheriffs and deputies forced to act fast, as well as general themes of vigilante justice. Historically, these images are far more fiction than fact, which most of us may already know, but they undeniably make for thrilling entertainment. We still see these tropes today, even outside of classic Westerns, such as in Han Solo’s slick, under-the-table shot at Greedo in the original Star Wars.

Wayne LaPierre, who is head of the National Rifle Association, has claimed that “the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.” This statement very much reflects the myth of the heroic gunslinger. Taken literally, all that’s needed to stop an armed criminal is someone else who’s armed and has good motives. Moreover, this is the only real solution, in LaPierre’s view.

Along these lines of thought, some Americans have argued that teachers should carry concealed firearms to help reduce school shootings. A recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that 20% of those surveyed believe this is the most practical solution. Of…