West Virginia’s Republican-dominated Legislature pushed forward a slate of contentious bills Wednesday that would arm teachers, allow people to sue libraries over books that offend them and restrict where transgender kids can use the bathroom at school.
Described by conservatives as efforts to protect children while they learn, the legislation comes as GOP-led state Legislatures across the country are embracing bills expanding gun rights and restricting LGBTQ+ rights.
“This is the only way really that I can see to defend these students,” Republican Del. Bill Ridenour said before lawmakers in the House Education Committee greenlit the bill allowing K-12 public school staff with concealed carry licenses to volunteer to carry firearms on campuses.
All three bills are opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia. The state’s only LGBTQ+ advocacy organization has decried the bathroom and book proposals.
I don’t know about y’all, but back when I was in public school I had quite a number of teachers who I wouldn’t trust to operate an inflatable squeaky hammer, let alone a firearm. I really don’t see how allowing teachers to carry guns in school is going to be a good idea in any capacity or at any stretch. The temptation for certain types of fuckheads to try to use the gun as a disciplinary tool will be too damn strong. I can see it already. And then guess what’ll happen?
Plus, you’re asking teachers to kill students which is kinda the opposite of why people get into teaching.
And now schoolshoters know who to target first too.
Literally saying “the only solution to kids getting shot in school, is putting more guns in the school… and also fuck trans kids and books”.
I still work for a public school district, I just don’t work at a campus anymore. Back when I did and when Texas seemed to be taking the proposal of “but what if we armed the teachers” seriously, we had one particular teacher on campus who was really REALLY into the idea.
She’d recently gotten a gun as a Christmas present from her husband. The reason he purchased the gun for her was that she’d previously received psychological treatment which disqualified her (at the time) from owning a gun. He kept the gun in a safe to which she did not know the combination. After she and her husband separated, she hired a locksmith to drill out the gun safe.
This was a woman who I’ve known since she was in high school and she never showed signs of mental stability. Beyond that, I’d witnessed her yell at her own biological children, “shut up, oh my god, why won’t you stop talking?! You ruined my life! I wish you were never born!” This was not in a small private setting, but with multiple witnesses and her older, elementary school-aged child just stood unwavering and unflinching as though this was a normal way to converse.
Once again, this is a public school teacher who, at one point, illegally owned a gun and desired to be armed around children. When rumors started spreading around the district that we might actually arm teachers, an unofficial poll took place at my campus where more than half of the campus employees stated that they’d quit their jobs if this teacher were armed on campus.
Y’all are scared, we’re scared, the kids are scared. The only people who seem to be cool with this are the gun nuts and those who profit off of child murder.
“It’s books, not bullets, that harm our children in schools.” – The United States of America’s Republican party.
What a bunch of reactionary cunts.
dinglebutt the enabler has opened this can of worms; now the race is on to see how far they can go and how much they can get away with.
WV has historically leaned Democrat but if Republicans support coal I’m sure many would vote for that.
I was born there but shit like this makes me glad I still don’t live there.
Yes, arm the most unionized workers in the US, this will end well for you 😏 😏
Texas teachers can get fired for going on strike but what about Counter Strike?
