Good Guy with a Gun: The Arming of Teachers in America

In the wake of the Sandy Hook massacres in Newtown, Connecticut, Buckeye Firearms Foundation announced that we would pay for a trial course for teachers and school staff to be trained by John Benner of Tactical Defense Institute. The response from media, and school employees was overwhelming. One class grew into the FASTER Saves Lives program and interest continues to grow.

In 2014, I was contacted by Kate Way who was interested in doing a documentary on the concept of armed school staff. Like media from all over the world, she wanted access to our FASTER Saves Lives classes, and the people participating in them. But she didn’t want a 3 minute story; she was working on an hour-long documentary.

At first brush, allowing a woman from the anti-gun state of Massachusetts, who had no firearms training such access, seemed ill-advised. But I also knew that it was impossible to tell the story in a typical news segment. The only reason armed staff seems controversial to some is because they don’t understand the problem, or our program. After all, everyone wants kids to be safe. So a properly done documentary would be helpful, not just to us, but to every school district and indeed every parent/family in the country.

Kate convinced me that she wanted to create a good documentary. She made clear that it would not be a promotional piece for FASTER or our concept, but an honest look at all sides. What she lacked in firearms experience, she made up for in her work ethic and quest for knowledge and understanding.

Kate and her partner Julie Akeret have invested an enormous amount of time, effort, and I’m sure money so far. They will be back in Ohio soon as they continue their work. They have no big sponsors and now must raise money to continue.

Their press release states:

Good Guy with a Gun: The Arming of Teachers in America is a one-hour documentary film about the growing practice of arming teachers as a security measure in K-12 public schools. Since the tragic massacre in Newtown, CT in 2012, communities around the country have been scrambling to implement better security plans, and school districts in at least nine states have begun arming teachers and other school personnel. Focusing on Ohio, a traditional bellwether state, this film tells the stories of people and communities on both sides of this controversial measure.

You can view the trailer here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kateandjulie/good-guy-with-a-gun-th...

They must raise at least $20,000 to fund the continuation of this important documentary.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Foundation President, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award" and the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award."