Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Senator Tarr’s Statement on Education Board Resolution
BOSTON – Today Senate Minority
Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement in response
to the passage of a resolution by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education in opposition to arming educators.
“Yesterday the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education unanimously adopted a well-reasoned resolution in
opposition to the concept of arming educators in order to promote school
safety. I support the resolution adopted by the board, and also oppose the idea
of arming teachers with firearms.”
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MASSACHUSETTS
BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
RESOLUTION
ADOPTED, MARCH 27, 2018
Voted:
WHEREAS the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was deeply troubled by the February 14, 2018 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 14 students and three adults, and equally troubled by previous school schootings, including the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado that killed 12 students and one adult, and the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut that killed 20 students and six adults; and
WHEREAS there is no evidence-based research showing that arming teachers would reduce casualties in mass shootings; and
WHEREAS allowing guns in schools by other than law enforcement personnel would increase the risk of accidental shootings of students and other bystanders; and
WHEREAS teachers are first and foremost educators and therefore should be employed solely on the basis of their educational skills and credentials, not their skills as a security officer; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education believes arming educators will make schools less safe, and the Board opposes any move to do so.
The vote was unanimous
