Overview:
What if Donald Trump participated in school shooter trainings? This teacher says it must happen.
Former President Donald Trump has nearly been assassinated by two deranged white Republicans with guns-twice. A third instance looked scary, too. Trump has become so worried about it in recent days that he has even asked for a military helicopter. Many people who support Trump seem to believe that the core issue isn’t guns, nor is it all of the divisive rhetoric and threats that Trump himself is making. Instead, the problem is rhetoric from what Trump calls “evil” and “sick” people, “leftists.”
As a public school teacher, I want Donald Trump to know that I understand where he is coming from. After all, I’ve lost former students to gun violence and had a high school friend’s husband shot and killed in the San Bernardino mass shooting. I’ve had to lockdown countless times. Each time, it feels crazy because someone else seems to think they know the real reason.
But kids and teachers have plenty of time to sort out what could be killing us. Donald Trump, on the other hand, only has a couple of weeks until the election. On November 5th, if he wins, he can have access to the full Secret Service to protect him. Trump simply doesn’t have the time to take any chances with his very important life before then.
And that is why I think Donald Trump needs some of the school shooter training and preparation that he and his closest advisors have been recommending for teachers and our students for years.
Trump Should Spend Money that Schools Don’t Have
To begin, Trump needs to go shopping. His transparent bulletproof barrier is nice, but it’s only the first level of protection. Let’s get former president Trump a nice 400-dollar bulletproof backpack from “Bulletproof Zone” for his other side. Not all kids (or teachers) can afford something like this, but Trump sure can. But wait, there’s more. There are now other massive online stores like School Safety Solutions, where Trump can buy lockdown shades (for his jets and Escalades), bleeding tourniquets (for kids but also adults like Trump), bulletproof whiteboards, door barriers, and even kitty litter (in case he has to hunker down for a few hours like my class and I did a few years ago).
These items may seem over-the-top, but it’s clear that they aren’t. Even JD Vance says gun violence is now “a fact of life.” I think Trump should listen to his running mate for his own protection.
Trump Should Wear a Firearm, and So Should His Rallygoers
Trump has stated for a long time that teachers like me should be packing a firearm: “It only works when you have people very adept at using fire arms,” and that should be “teachers and coaches.” I think he should listen to his own advice now. He’s standing there, giving a speech, like me, in front of the class, explaining essay writing. And then, bang, there’s a shooter atop a rooftop. Now imagine the whole rally whipping out their pistols, taking aim together. Done and done.
Even if there isn’t a crowd full of people armed, we still need him to be packing for his safety. Trump is a man of courage. He’s told us that if he were ever in a school shooting, he’d run in and take out the shooter himself (even if he didn’t have a weapon). So imagine if he did have one!
I say there’s never a better time to use that patriotic courage than at one of his rallies. Or maybe it’ll be while golfing or wherever else someone might be expressing their Second Amendment right and also thinking about killing him. The point is, let’s keep him armed like he wants me to be while I’m at recess duty because you just never know.
Trump Should Get Tactical
Finally, I think it’s time for Donald Trump to take the advice of so many of his supporters on Capitol Hill. He should not just be armed; he should get tactical. For instance, private companies now offer schools “combat access bleeding control stations,” “combat application tourniquets,” and “sim limb kits” (in case bullets from a semi-automatic weapon completely shoot off a child’s arm or leg). I think this type of protection is ideal for Trump’s rallies, where others could be wounded, maimed, or killed. Listen to this: “[The sim limb kit] is great for any stop the bleed class for training students the principles of tourniquet application wound packing, stitching wounds, and chest seal application.” I mean, just replace the word ‘students’ with ‘presidential candidates,’ and you’re in business.
In short, Donald Trump’s life is extremely important. But until he can be safe behind the full might of the US Secret Service, he’s about as protected as a sitting duck or a child in a US classroom. But he doesn’t have to be. All he needs to do is ignore the vast majority of Americans who want gun control and take his own advice for a couple of weeks.
Better safe than sorry.
