Citizens Right to Protect Themselves

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A recent "Letter to the Editors" of the JS faulted our Police Chief for not controlling crime. Don't blame the chief. He said he could use 25 more officers on the street. Instead, under pressure from the elite, the City Council gave $28 million unneeded dollars to the libraries. More unnecessary property taxes we will pay for years to come.

Today's JS reports the arrest on a person for first degree murder, the fourth in the city so far this year. The suspect was convicted on weapons charges in 2005 and twice in 2006. He was convicted on the charge of marijuana possession 2007.

Why was the "man" on the streets? Don't blame the Chief. Blame the wording of the law, some of the Judges and the States Attorney. It becomes a more dangerous world every day. I support the right of any authorized and qualified citizen to bear arms. It is a movement I support as a small step for safer communities.

Attached is confirmed report of progress being made in Texas schools.

From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], / Associated Press, Wednesday, September 3, 2008, Volume 28, Issue 02, p. 4-5. See http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/03/02brief-b1.h28.html?print=1
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NEWS IN BRIEF

Back to School Includes Weapons


Texas district's policy allows approved employees to carry firearms.


By The Associated Press

Along with normal first-day jitters and excitement, students in Harrold, Texas, started school last week wondering which teachers might be toting firearms.

"It was kind of awkward knowing that some teachers were carrying guns," said Adam Lira, a senior. "I don't feel like they should be, 'cause we already have locked doors and cameras. But I didn't feel threatened by it."

Several parents said they had no idea that employees of the 110-student K-12 school were allowed to carry concealed guns on campus until recent publicity about the school board's policy, approved quietly last fall. They said they were upset that the rural community near the Oklahoma border had not been able to give its views.

"As far as I'm concerned, teachers were trained to educate my children-not carry a gun. Even police officers need years of training in hostage situations," said Traci McKay, whose three children attend the red-brick school. "I don't want my child looking over her shoulder wondering who's carrying a gun."

But Harrold Superintendent David Thweatt said the board approved the policy in an October open meeting that had been publicized. He said the decision was made after nearly two years of researching the best security options at the school, just off a highway and 30 minutes from the sheriff's office.

"When you outlaw guns in a certain area, the only people who follow that are law-abiding citizens, and everybody else ignores it," said Mr. Thweatt.

The superintendent said some of the school's 50 employees are carrying weapons, but he would not say how many.

Each employee who wants to carry a weapon first must be approved by the board based on his or her personality and reaction to a crisis, Mr. Thweatt said. In addition to training required for a state concealed-weapons license, they also must be trained to handle crisis-intervention and hostage situations.

Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has said he supports the policy because "there's a lot of incidents where that would have saved a number of lives."
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