I picked up a copy of the Courier News today while I was driving through New Jersey.

On the front cover:

This is a sensitive issue. Anytime we have these situations where there are mass shootings in public, and school shootings, there are lots emotions that have to be processed. Sometimes, that process could take years; it’s a traumatic event.

I do not own a gun, but I was a teacher for several years in New Jersey, so I think about these school shootings from the perspective of an educator, a leader, and someone who children look up to. I often think, “how would I respond if the children and myself were under attack?”

A teachable moment is a special moment. As a teacher, when you’re observing your students, you look for these moments to help a student expand on something they show interest in. A teacher would recognize what the student has done, while helping him or her expand their process of thinking.

I see the students in the picture above. They’re interested in helping eliminate gun violence. This is a teachable moment, but there’s a difference between what I’m going to share with you, and what you will hear and see in the mainstream news, and popular culture.

While we mourn the dead, and attempt to move forward, we also have to consider how to end this horrific pattern of school shootings from reoccurring.

Mainstream news effects popular opinion, and opinions change the culture. That’s why it’s important for you, even though you’re young, to start thinking for yourself, exercise common sense, and consider all things before jumping to conclusions.

As most of you know, we as American’s have the 2nd amendment, which deals with the right to bear arms. In addition, you can enlist in any branch of active military when you turn 17. Think about that. You can fight and die for your country before you’re old enough to buy tobacco products.

What mainstream news, and certain members within our government try to do, is capitalize on tragic events. When something happens like a school shooting, or 911 for example, our elected officials, some not all, use it as an opportunity to pass laws that chip away at our rights, and ultimately, our freedoms and liberty.

There are lots of people in this country who hate the fact that we have the right to defend ourselves, which is the much deeper issue that surrounds guns in this country to begin with. America is unique. Our government was created by the people, for the people, and because the power lies within the hands of the people, we ultimately have the right to bear arms to protect ourselves from enemies, both foreign and domestic.

Foreign enemies are invading armies, and domestic refers to these tyrants that are walking into schools and shooting people.

Now, people who oppose the 2nd amendment are really enemies of liberty. Don’t let them brainwash you into thinking guns are bad.

Because mainstream news wants to control how you think, they hide the truth from you, and the truth is that probably none of these crimes are committed by people who go through the background check and legal process to own a firearm to begin with. These crimes, almost 100% of the time, are committed by people who steal guns, or obtain them illegally.

Now, the question is, how do we stop the gun violence. We could put metal detectors in every school with security guards. Those security guards will without a doubt, use the metal wand and search students by hand.

So, because somebody decides to steal a gun and shoot people, the rest of us have to work and go to school in a prison atmosphere. I’m not necessarily against detectors and security guards, I’m just raising your awareness to the atmosphere that’s being created. You’re not going to like walking through a metal detector everyday or having a stranger put his or her hands on you, but you’ll deal with it if it’s making your school safe.

Now, here’s the answer. It’s right in the 2nd amendment. Here it is.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” 

The answer: Teachers and school administrators who work in schools shall receive firearm training, and they should be required to conceal and carry a firearm. That’s what a well regulated militia is and it’s necessary for the security of a free State.

The security of a free State means it’s up to us preserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We cannot and should not live in fear, and we cannot and shouldn’t allow the actions of a few criminals take our freedoms and liberties from us.

The second amendment is the right of the people and the Federal Government CANNOT infringe on that right.

Understand this, an individual who walks into a school with a gun and shoots and kills people is a terrorist. That individual is a terrorist, and that act is an act of terrorism. Innocent people are now living in fear because they were terrorized. We have to protect ourselves, and our families and friends from these people.

This will never be the popular answer, but it’s the right answer.