I have heard some ridiculous proposals before about reducing violence in schools. But damn.
"Republican Bill Crozier says if he's elected he would put thick, used textbooks under every desk for students to use as self-defense.
Crozier says he acknowledges the idea may seem a little unusual but he's sticking with it. He says in a recent test an old calculus book stopped a bullet fired by a handgun."
It's pretty obvious that Crazier Crozier is no bibliophile. I mean at least he isn't advocating bonfires but still this just really upsets my inner librarian.
& just for the record a small caliber/power level handgun bullet can be stopped by a thick book. A medium caliber/power level handgun bullet can be stopped by a few thick books. But I doubt Crazier Crozier got his notion from The Box O' Truth.
I have a better solution though. If he's advocating using books to stop bullets then wouldn't a better solution be to have the teacher shoot the potential mass murderer before he gets to test Crozier's penetration theory? I mean if it saves just one book...
Posted by Publicola at October 21, 2006 06:16 PM | TrackBackThink of those poor little paperbacks!
Posted by: Stan at October 22, 2006 12:42 PMI whole heartledly agree with the idea of allowing some teachers to be armed. However I was a victim of Public schools and am well aware of some of the teachers in them, plus I have relatives who are teachers, and many of them I wouldn't let near any sharp object if I could. Some teachers are the most hysterical nuts I can imagine, and I can just see some deranged Ward Churchill type going berserk if provoked, (such as if the Republicans hold onto the House and Senate). Still, it would beat having a "gun free Zone" where stupid people could kill without fear.
Posted by: we are not amused at October 22, 2006 02:42 PMAt least from quick memory, I can't think of any school shooting that used weak enough cartidges that a book would reliably stop them. I suppose that the columbine killers did use a shotgun, but I don't know what shot size was involved.
As far as arming teachers, I think the teachers that would volunteer to be armed would not be "deranged ward churchill types".
I think I'm more interested in trying the israeli idea of letting volunteer parents patrol hallways. Granted the lack of military conscription means that there would have to be some training, but that's not a huge problem.
Heck, if a school bought a couple of cheap pistol caliber carbines and maybe some body armor, and the local police donated a radio or two, the parents would be ready to rock.
Posted by: Bob at October 22, 2006 08:08 PMWhen I first heard this story, I am pretty sure this was among a list of other ridiculous ideas. I took the whole thing as sarcasm.
Posted by: Bisley4525 at October 22, 2006 09:27 PMAnd when the student holds up the big old book the gunman isn't going to change his point of aim? That book is going to be harder to block a shot with than Wonder Woman's bracelets.
Posted by: triticale at October 23, 2006 05:41 PM