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Texas bill to allow use of deadly force by teachers against students
Hotair ^ | 01/31/2015 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 01/31/2015 10:10:52 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Sometimes these various bits of state gun legislation get a bit confusing for me. In Texas is it apparently already legal for teachers to employ “reasonable force” in disciplinary situations and be protected from legal repercussions. (Good for them.) That applies to normal situations of “discipline” and maintaining order, though.. not a full blown crisis or attack. But in a new bill under consideration in the Lone Star State, deadly force would garner similar protection in the courts under appropriate circumstances.

A proposed bill would allow teachers in Texas to use deadly force against students and be protected from any kind of prosecution.

The Teacher’s Protection Act would allow these teachers to use force against students or anyone else on school grounds if they feel threatened. Educators would avoid prosecution for “injury or death that results from the educator’s use of deadly force” under the new legislation.

Texas law already protects teachers from disciplinary measures if they use reasonable force against a student. The law proposed by Republican Rep. Dan Flynn would allow deadly force.

Association of Texas Professional Educators managing attorney Paul Tapp told the Houston Chronicle that teachers in the state already have some legal protections that allow them to use force under reasonable circumstances.

I’m obviously not saying this is a bad idea, but I find myself struggling a bit to identify precisely what the goal here is. If you are already allowing teachers to carry in the class (and that’s the case in Texas, though the decision remains on a district by district basis) then the decision to use force would also be on a case by case basis and require some common sense. If there is a big, violent student who is armed, whether it be with a gun, a knife or any other potentially lethal weapon, then lethal force may be needed to bring the situation under control. A couple of kids fighting in the hall isn’t going to warrant breaking out the big iron.

The point is, if you’ve taken the cautionary step of allowing qualified teachers to protect the students (and themselves) by carrying, doesn’t that already carry with it some sort of protection in court for the teacher in question, at least in terms of prosecution? (Perhaps it doesn’t… I’m just asking.) I’m not sure if this would apply to protection from civil suits brought by the parents. At least it doesn’t sound like it would, but some lawyers may want to weigh in on that one.

Armed teachers or in-school marshals are always going to be able to respond in a crisis faster than the police. Of course, you want them to be properly trained and ready. Such was the case with Argyle Independent School District who ensured that teachers only carried after they underwent firearm and emergency response training, passed a psychological evaluation and obtained a firearms license. That sounds like a sensible model for most schools, but if the teachers feel better with additional legal protection from prosecution if things go from worse to worst in a crisis, perhaps this will be a plus for them.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; deadlyforce; education; students; texas

1 posted on 01/31/2015 10:10:52 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

This guy is really doing the Texas Two-Step. Yes, but, maybe...

Frankly I see the need of appropriately trained armed teachers in the Modern school setting. In ‘some’ school systems the odds of getting yourself mugged or even killed in the ‘public schools’ are very high and a day by day worry to teachers and students alike.

We all know of these instances, especially if you are a regular to Free Republic. So the prudent among us sees the need for Armed Teachers in the School setting.


2 posted on 01/31/2015 10:46:45 AM PST by The Working Man
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To: SeekAndFind; a fool in paradise

So if a student rejects a sexual advance by a teacher, the teacher can shoot him or her?

//sarc


3 posted on 01/31/2015 10:59:29 AM PST by GeronL
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To: SeekAndFind

It will be called racist. I don’t think I have to say why.


4 posted on 01/31/2015 11:09:58 AM PST by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: SeekAndFind

5 posted on 01/31/2015 11:14:35 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not A Matter of Opinion)
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To: SeekAndFind
There should be the same rules of engagement as in any civilian setting:
The Right to Defend oneself and others.
Not more complicated, no special rules or privileges.
With what looks like a blanket amnesty for teachers, this bill seems like it's designed to fail.

6 posted on 01/31/2015 11:22:15 AM PST by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: SeekAndFind

Seriously, the first time I saw this posted on facebook, I had to check if the news source was a parody site. I was ready to make light of the “law”.


7 posted on 01/31/2015 11:27:44 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (Rome didn't fall in a day, either.)
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To: SeekAndFind
...bill to allow use of deadly force by teachers against students...

Now there's a sentence to ponder.

8 posted on 01/31/2015 11:40:40 AM PST by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
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To: The Working Man; All

I read the bill. From a preliminary reading, all the bill does is give the same protections to teachers that already exist for homeowners.

It is essentially a castle doctrine for teachers.


9 posted on 01/31/2015 7:47:34 PM PST by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
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To: GeronL; Slings and Arrows; MeshugeMikey
Talking out of turn?
That’s a paddlin’.
Looking out the window?
That’s a paddlin’.
Staring at my sandals?
That’s a paddling.
Paddling the school canoe?
Oh, you'd better believe that’s a paddlin’.


10 posted on 02/01/2015 7:12:25 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Shickl-Gruber's Big Lie gave us Hussein's Un-Affordable Care act (HUAC).)
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To: a fool in paradise

Fatal Beatings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMoB6ms2mE


11 posted on 02/01/2015 8:38:22 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
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To: a fool in paradise

lol


12 posted on 02/01/2015 9:48:51 AM PST by GeronL
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