Even with President Donald Trump's support, the idea of arming school teachers is facing resistance.
“That is the talk right now …They’re saying I wonder would anything like that happen at our school,” said third-grade student Mocellie Bitting Jr.
He says he’s nervous a shooting could happen at school and at just 8 years old, he feels strongly about whether or not teachers should be armed.
“I think that the teachers should be armed so they can defend themselves in case something like that happens,” he said.
However, some adults feel differently. We reached out to Duval County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Patricia Willis, and in a statement, she said in part: “People armed with weapons should be well-trained law enforcement officers, not people whose career ambition is to nurture children as educators.”
It’s an opinion shared by Michelle Dillon, the president of the St. John’s County Education Association.
“The only people in school’s threat should carry guns must be highly trained law enforcement personnel,” Dillon said.
She said teachers are heartbroken and on edge, but to her knowledge, none have expressed the desire to carry a firearm.
“Our job is to teach, simply teach,” she said.
And a student’s job is to learn, but instead, they’re busy with the fear their classroom is no longer a safe place.
“I think they should be doing more stuff to protect the kids because they started whenever we go outside they have to lock the doors,” Bitting said.
Below is the Superintendent's full statement:
"The chief goal of our teachers is to be excellent educators who create engaging, nurturing learning environments for our children and to prepare students for academic success. People armed with weapons should be well-trained law enforcement officers, not people whose career ambition is to nurture children as educators. I am in support of considering solutions that increase the number of armed, highly-trained certified law enforcement professionals on our school campuses."