This week in Congress, the safety of our children is on the line. The focus isn’t just on whether Brett Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the Supreme Court but also on a troubling proposal from the Department of Education to allow schools to use federal funds from the Every Student Succeeds Act to arm teachers. This issue is expected to be discussed during the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.
As the new school year has just begun, the Department of Education is exploring ways to spend taxpayer money on firearms for educators. The solution to school gun violence lies in implementing responsible gun laws and proper gun storage, not in burdening teachers—who already spend their own money on basic classroom supplies—with the responsibility of carrying firearms.
Education Secretary Martha Collins has been reportedly considering a plan that would enable schools to allocate federal funds—intended to “enhance students’ academic success”—to purchase firearms for teachers. This proposal would mark a significant departure from the federal government’s long-standing policy against using public funds to arm educators. After considerable backlash from concerned parents and educators, Secretary Collins is attempting to shift the focus to Congress.
Fortunately, Congress has already expressed its position through the Every Student Succeeds Act, which was designed to empower schools with the resources necessary for effective teaching. The bill’s authors have clarified that the intention was never to use these funds to introduce firearms into classrooms, and Congress must not allow Secretary Collins to change that.
Our educators are already stretched thin; it is absurd to expect them to take on the role of armed protectors. The notion of teachers, many of whom lack significant training, being tasked with neutralizing threats in crowded classrooms poses serious risks. Research shows that the presence of guns in schools does not guarantee the protection of students. Even highly trained law enforcement officers struggle to hit their targets, and armed civilians are even less effective, potentially complicating law enforcement responses.
Additionally, the risk of children accessing firearms is alarmingly high. When children find guns, the likelihood of suicide, homicide, and accidental shootings significantly increases. It’s a well-known fact among parents that children are observant and often discover where weapons are stored. The belief that students won’t know where their teacher’s gun is kept is incredibly reckless.
Moreover, arming teachers disproportionately endangers children of color, who already face harsher disciplinary measures compared to their white classmates. The presence of firearms in the hands of those responsible for discipline can lead to devastating consequences for these children and their families.
In light of overwhelming evidence that arming teachers would likely escalate gun violence, students, parents, educators, and school safety experts—including police officers and major education associations—have expressed their strong opposition to this dangerous proposal. In 2018, volunteers from Moms Demand Action successfully urged 16 state legislatures to reject measures allowing guns in schools.
The push to arm teachers reflects the interests of the gun lobby, which promotes an agenda of “guns for anyone, anytime, no questions asked.” This initiative would use taxpayer funds to benefit the gun industry while normalizing the presence of firearms in educational settings.
Instead of arming teachers, policymakers should focus on preventing dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms. Effective strategies such as background checks and red flag laws have been proven to lower gun violence and save lives, gaining traction among voters and lawmakers in areas previously dominated by the NRA. It’s time for Congress to act.
Lawmakers must ensure that the Department of Education cannot alter the rules to allow states to use federal education funds for arming teachers, now or in the future. Contact your representatives and express your desire for tax dollars to be invested in educational resources, not weapons. The safety of our children is paramount.
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Summary
The proposal to arm teachers with firearms poses significant risks to student safety and undermines the primary purpose of education funds. Instead, lawmakers should focus on effective gun control measures that protect our children rather than introducing weapons into schools.
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