We need a collective deep breath. ❤️
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Share:
A few weeks ago, I shared a Hot Topic asking you all how you felt about a Tennessee law allowing teachers to carry guns in schools. I think keeping up with current events is important and am always interested in how this community is feeling about the news of the day.
It turns out that the majority of our community opposes the law and feels that arming teachers will only put children in more danger. As I looked at your responses, though, I stopped in my tracks when I saw how many of us are living every day with a deep concern for safety in our communities. Our community spans across the country and still, more than 80% of us said that we feel “very concerned” about public safety, especially where guns are concerned.
Living with that kind of fear isn’t healthy for any of us, and I wanted to offer some ways to keep your fears in check and, of course, stay safe.
- Don’t let your imagination run away with you. Social media, and even network news, are constantly showing us what’s happening—but can’t exactly show us what isn’t happening. No one is posting that the local drug store has had no robberies this month, which means that the reality of what’s going right gets buried under what’s going wrong. All this negative coverage can make it seem like we’re less safe today than ever before. But, good news! Violent crime and even property crimes have been dropping since they spiked in 2020 and are still way below the rates of crime we saw back in the 90’s.
- Get to know your neighbors. Part of what makes me feel safe is knowing that my neighbors have my back if I need it—but our relationship didn’t come out of nowhere. It might be awkward at first, but make an effort to talk to your neighbors, invite them for a BBQ (it’s finally that season!), or make a double batch of cookies to drop off. Having their number and knowing that they’re just a call away is sure to help you feel safe and supported.
- Learn about local safety efforts. We originally talked about safety in the context of schools and keeping our kids safe. If you don’t already know what your kid’s or grandkid’s school safety policy is, give the front office a call and ask them to walk you through it. Sometimes just knowing what plans are already in place can make you feel more comfortable.
These are just my two cents—share in the comments what you do to feel safe at home and in your community.
Who are we to say that a teacher won’t one day lash out…and decide to shoot up a school? It’s possible… I would say make them undergo psych evals but not even that is guaranteed. I live in TN.. and I think it’s unnecessary unless it’s city schools… If it happened it should only be a select few. Why not pay the extra funds for more police on property depending on how big school is..They are taking the wrongs out of schools to put the wrong things in… Did you all know they don’t even teach cursive writing here in TN? How will the kids learn to sign checks or any paperwork…. Digital I guess? Sad
..
“If” and only “if” these elected teachers who are armed with guns can be vetted thoroughly have no ill will and intent to harm others for color bias, and can safely and properly store and protect students, thieves from stealing ,whomever not authorized to have this gun , if the teacher can be responsible than I can see some level of protection for our children. The flip side of this is your trust level has to outweigh the desires for the guns to be present in the schools, classrooms etc, there is always a chance of a teacher not being responsible, not being conscientious of the ramifications of not following rules to insure safety in our children’s school/classrooms. I’m on the fence, it’s sad we’re in a society , and the times dictates guns to fight gun a in our schools. Schools use to be a safe haven for children. It’s gonna take some trial and error ,and in order for this to be tested a real incident has to occur, I’m not sure its worth it