Two Cents with The Times, July

Two Cents with The Times is a  monthly portion of the Herald-Times where locals and visitors have the chance to share their opinion on topics relevant to the Yoakum community. Participants were selected using opportunity sampling around downtown Yoakum. This month’s interviewees agreed to answer one question on the spot:

Do you believe school staff members should be allowed to carry firearms on campuses to protect students against intruders? Why? 

Casey Kelley, Shiner

“I believe they should but I don’t believe it should be mandatory.  The reason being, – as the wife of a veteran and police officer – there is certain training that you need, and you should not put that responsibility on another human being unless they are prepared to end another human being’s life.”

Ed Neubauer, Sweet Home 

“I don’t know, I’ve been wrestling with that for some time. I’m a retired cop and I’m not sure that teachers should be carrying guns. But on the hand, if they don’t, who’s going to? My thought is that perhaps there should be more security in the classrooms, in the schools. Perhaps hiring retired police will be a good idea, retired army people would be a good idea. People who are familiar with weapons, not school teachers. 

Scott Fimbel, Inez

“Yes I do, granted they’ve had the proper training with the firearm. … I think it would be more protection for the kids in the long run.”

Hugo Calderon, Yoakum

“No, I don’t like it. It’s dangerous. Maybe one teacher teaches normally, but maybe one is not good (around misbehaving students). … Maybe, police outside the schools at all times.”