Bringing more guns into schools to keep kids safe from shootings doesn’t make any sense.
But that’s what state Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Bellevue, hopes to do. According to an Associated Press article, he proposed legislation Wednesday to allow teachers, principals and other administrators to carry concealed weapons on school grounds.

The proposed bill follows a rash of recent school violence, including the fatal shooting of the Weston High School principal in Cazenovia.

Giving teachers guns would not keep students safe from shootings, and the easier availability could put them at even greater danger.

Tragic as they may be, school shootings are isolated incidents. But if teachers carried guns in school, a potential shooter could get his or her hands on a gun with less trouble.

But what if a teacher locks that gun up in a cabinet for safekeeping? If a crazed, gun-wielding maniac suddenly opened fire on the class, it could be hard to get to the gun in time to save student lives.

Students aren’t the only ones at risk of “snapping” and shooting up their classrooms – the same could happen to a teacher. Foreseeably, a few teachers could use the weapons to control and threaten students.

Armed teachers could set a bad example for students by implying that violence is a solution or a way to keep safe. And younger students could be scared knowing their teacher has a gun.

There are plenty of more-effective ways to lessen the threat of school violence. Schools could install metal detectors or hire more liaison officers and security guards. And given that most school shooters are victims of teasing and bullying, schools could work to create healthier social environments.

Defending students by gunfire should be the job of law enforcement officials, not educators. Let teachers do their jobs, and leave the weapons to the professionals.