Guns in Schools

In yesterday's Trib there was a headline: Prof: States should copy Utah guns-in-school law.  Utah's law allows teachers to carry concealed weapons in the classroom.  There was a Senate panel and Gabrielle Giffords spoke in order to heighten gun-control measures.  Which I am 100% for. 

But...

Teachers having guns in the classroom seems like a step in the wrong direction.
Shouldn't we be working towards a gun-free school zone?
Or leaving the guns to trained professionals?
I think a policeman or an armed guard in schools would be help more than teachers carrying guns in their classrooms.

My mom is teacher.  She teaches 6th grade.  I can't imagine her carrying a weapon of any sort.  Especially a gun.  Does that mean she won't be protected?  Is this becoming the wild wild west where everyone is responsible for their own home(room) front?   Shouldn't schools offer some sort of protection?  Some barrier between the outside and the classrooms?


Should parents be allowed to know if their child's teacher carries a gun?  Would you want your child in a class with a gun or without a gun? 

The article stated that "Professor Kopel, research director at the Denver University Independence Institute, said the gun opponents always come up with 'all kinds of fantastic scenarios' about how guns in schools would lead to teachers shooting each other or threatening students, or that the students will steal the guns."

I'm not a gun opponent but my response is... Ah. Yeah.  Those are my exact concerns.  Having a loaded hidden weapon in a building full of children... doesn't sound safe to me at all.

As an American I think it is fine to have a concealed weapons permit.  But I don't think you should bring gun(s) into schools.  Teachers are trained to teach and mentor kids.  Schools can hire someone or a team of people who are trained to protect the school.

Am I standing alone on this?  Do you think teachers should be allowed to carry guns into schools?  Isn't that what we are fighting against?  Guns in schools?