Making America Great Again: Arms and Education

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Nehemiah 4:15-16

When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. ¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah,

(CSB)

The recent school shooting in Florida has once again thrown the nation into a time of grieving over the senseless loss of the lives of children and those educating them.  Unfortunately, this shooting has also reenergized the political debate over gun control.  (1)  On one side of the argument we have gun control advocates jumping on the opportunity to use this tragedy and its victims to advance their political agenda.  In the other side of the argument we have President Trump who calls for armed protection of students like the protection offered at airports, sporting events, concert venues, and even for politicians at the White House, Capitol, and the Supreme Court.  (2)

Those advocating for more gun control operate under the fallacious belief that taking guns away will end violence.  This belief is fallacious because it is not the gun that is evil but the operator of the gun.  The gun is only a tool in their hands and if lawmakers eliminate guns, those with evil intentions to commit violent acts at a school will simply find another tool.  For example, terrorists in nations like France and England have resorted to the use of cars or trucks and knives to murder massive numbers of people.  There is also the possibility of a bomber bringing a bomb onto a school campus. 

Instead schools must learn from the example of Israel, a nation with more than its share of enemies looking to commit acts of violence within its borders.  The Israeli security includes limited access to schools with smaller schools only having one entrance.  Each entry gate has a guard cabin with armed guards that have met a standard to carry a weapon and do their job.  When students in Israel are mobile on field trips, they have a plan B in case of emergency discussed with both teachers and students.  In addition, each trip by students off campus makes use of former combat soldiers acting as escort.  (3) 

The fact that school shootings in Israel, a place where guns are a common sight, are nonexistent has captured the attention of some of the parents of victims of the Florida school shooting.  (4)  While other factors may contribute to the absence of school shootings in Israel, we cannot ignore the deterrence factor of armed security guards at school entrances presenting a major obstacle to anyone entering the campus with evil murderous intentions.   

Nehemiah encountered armed opposition to his wall rebuilding project.  In response to this threat we see him call for armed guards to protect those engaged in the work (Nehemiah 4:15-23).  This combination of sword and trowel demonstrates the benefit gained from workers being able to work without fear of attack because there are armed guards present.  The book of Nehemiah ends with successful completion of the wall as the workers were able to work free of fear. 

Nehemiah utilized a strategy of sword and trowel insuring completion of the work of rebuilding the wall of protection around Jerusalem.  I therefore agree with the President that we need a combination of arms and education to insure students complete their education without the fear of a shooter entering their classroom.  The main duty of students in school is completion of their education, not living in fear of someone entering their classroom with intentions of murdering them, whether with a gun or some other weapon.  The example in Israel, like Nehemiah’s plan, has been successful and therefore something our school districts should model to insure security at their schools. 

1. Schweers, Jeffery. www.usatoday.com. Parkland school shooting seen as turning point for gun control debate. [Online] USA Today, February 24, 2018. [Cited: February 25, 2018.] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/24/parkland-school-shooting-seen-turning-point-gun-control-debate/369914002/.

2. Greensood, Max. Trump repeats call to arm trained teachers on school campuses. www.thehill.com. [Online] The Hill, February 24, 2018. [Cited: February 25, 2018.] http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/375435-trump-repeats-call-to-arm-trained-teachers-on-school-campuses.

3. Eli. School Security in Israel. sofrep.com. [Online] Sofrep News, February 25, 2018. [Cited: February 25, 2018.] https://sofrep.com/100108/school-security-in-israel/.

4. Eglash, Ruth. Why school shootings are so rare in Israel, where guns are such a common sight. www.washingtonpost.com. [Online] The Washington Post, February 22, 2018. [Cited: February 25, 2018.] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/why-school-shootings-are-so-rare-in-israel-where-guns-are-such-a-common-sight/2018/02/22/1fce546a-17e3-11e8-930c-45838ad0d77a_story.html?utm_term=.b696985ba121.