Texas congressman: Principal should have been armed for self-defense
(CNN) - U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert said the deadly Connecticut school shooting could have been halted sooner if staff at the school had been equipped with guns.
"I wish to God (the principal) had had an M4 in her office, locked up, so when she heard gunfire she pulls it out … and takes him out, takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids," the Republican from Texas said on "Fox News Sunday."
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The gun control debate has been renewed since 20 students and six adults were killed Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Many lawmakers and politicians have called for the renewal of the federal assault weapons ban, a piece of legislation that expired in 2004 at the end of its 10-year term but has yet to be renewed.
Gohmert argued that as the country takes on a conversation about gun rights, people must be "open-minded." He said emotional reactions will naturally lead to a desire to "get rid of all guns," but he said that "you (should) use your head and look at the facts."
"Every mass killing of more than three people in recent history has been in a place where guns were prohibited, except for one," he said, arguing for looser gun laws so more people can be armed for self-protection. "They know no one will be armed."
Gohmert made headlines in July when he made similar remarks, saying more deaths could have been prevented in the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shooting if someone could have fired back at the gunman.
Asked why people need guns in places such as schools, malls and movie theaters, Gohmert said, "For the reason George Washington said, 'A free people should be an armed people.' "
The Second Amendment, he said, "ensures against the tyranny of the government if they know the biggest army is the American people."
On a separate show Sunday, former Education Secretary William Bennett made a similar argument, saying the political debate should be put on hold while emotions are still high.
"The whole nation is mourning. It's an important moment. Let the tears dry before we head off into all these directions at once," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Bennett, a Republican, also agreed with the idea that schools should have a gun.
"I'm not so sure I wouldn't want one person in a school armed, ready for this kind of thing," he said. "It would have to be someone who's trained, someone who's responsible, but my God if you can prevent this kind of thing."
Texas Congressman gives best reason President Obama should grant the peition of Texans and send them on their way. Either that or build a fence around the state and call it the Lone Brain Cell State.
This isn't constructive talk, this is crazy talk. Everyone agrees it's past time to be serious about guns but we must not act in an uncivilized manner and not throw more flames into the fire creating more disarray.
seeing who is saying this I am not surprised.....while we are at it why not arm all the kids and teach them to use firearms and bring them to school so they all could have shot at the perp. One way to stop violence to to threaten it with MORE violence.
I hate this! As a teacher I can not imagine a school in which staff, faculty, administrators are armed. That is NOT what a school should be. It reeks of capitulation. As though it is the only thing we can do to address (prevent) this kind of horror. While I am not opposed to gun ownership under most circumstances, I am certain that adding handguns to the elementary school environment simply invites tragedy. No, this is not the answer.
What is next do I have armed my 6 year Old ?
I wish U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert express his view in Piers Morgan tonight
Well said, if the staff had guns and met him in the hallway before he was able to enter the classroom this coward would have taken his own life immediately and not been able to hurt these helpless children.
It's hard to know how to respond to someone like Representative Gohmert. He's essentially advocating a return to the Wild West–the way to stop gun violence is to increase the number of guns available to the public, and to arm our educators. I just think that some Americans are living in another dimension that I just don't understand. Just like so many unthinking legislators have taken a blood oath to Grover Norquist, many have done so to the NRA.
"The Second Amendment, he said, "ensures against the tyranny of the government if they know the biggest army is the American people."
Too bad all those little children weren't "packing", eh, Gohmert? Or that Lanza's mother didn't have her loaded Glock strapped to her hand 24/7.
Did he just say we need more automatic weapons in schools. How about non-lethal answers, or is that crazy? The deadliest school massacre was the Bath Massacre, and a gun wouldn't have helped anyone. A man killed 46 after going bankrupt paying medical bills for his wife. Universal Physical and Mental Health seems more efficient than bringing in or taking away more guns.
Republicans always have this fantasy that if they had just been there with their trusty AK-47 assault rifle, they would've "blown the guy's head off". It's not as easy as it sounds, as any cop can tell you. Just figuring out what's going on is the first challenge, as you don't want to just start blowing off peoples' heads at the first hint of trouble. Secondly, getting your gun out of storage, loading it, and remembering to turn off the safety under extreme stress could be a problem. And even if you're one of those people training for the big assault on the government you hate so much, you have to shoot somebody who's shooting at you. The Republican fantasy is a lot of fun for them, but it's not very practical.
Moronic, but consider the source.
Louie the Lunatic shows us again why he as the only representative to vote against removing the term "lunatic" from federal laws. Gotta have SOME way to describe him.
Next step will be Gov. Perry demanding all Texas schools install gun cabinets with at least a dozen fully automatic guns in every principal's office. Each cabinet must also include six copies of the Bible, a book exposing evolution as a Commie plot, and a few hand grenades. It's time to get serious about education!!!
II have a permit for my concealed weapon. Of course every teacher should have a gun as well as every pilot....no brainer..and the school should be sued if another tragedy like this happens and no one is able to protect the kids.
Return to the Wild West/ We never left.
Priceless! With these people in the helm of our government we are definitely going back to the 1950s
The Congressman is crazy!
Typical Half- Witt comment from a pathetic person. Do we really want Gun Battles in the schools?
How about issuing all the kids handguns??
People like this idiot are the biggest part of the problem and advocates of the damn NRA which is the main reason that we do not have enforcement of Gun Laws and accountability for gun stores. They sell guns like candy bars.... without any background checks or a real reason to have the gun in the first place!
This is going to continue, so save the tears and candle – light vigils and the questions,WHY, we know why this happens, Gun Access, and No One is willing to step-up to it because of the NRA is in Control!
Lets put a Lockdown on the Gun Stores, not the schools, until we get -easy gun access stopped!
We have our own version of the enemy right here, the NRA Lobby..
so I guess he and others see nothing wrong with having to have teachers and principals come to work "packing heat". I live in Texas and that is the mentality down here folks...heck even the NUNS pack heat down here. I also have a degree in education and learning how to carry and use an AK-47 was not part of my major unless of course I was absent on that day it was taught.
Once again Louie Gohmert has proved himself an able spokesman for the completely clueless. Maybe he favors open carry in Congress so he can shoot all the communists he claims work there? Ignore this clown.
His solution is that we should all be armed with assault weapons and carry it with us when we go to school, to the mall, to the movie theaters? Imagine the scene in a parking lot if a car happens to backfire.
I'll look at the facts, Gomer.. people who live in homes with guns are far more likely to die from gunshot wounds than those who live in homes without guns.
This guy reminds us all of statements made concerning Rape and it being "God’s will".....
How do these people wind-up in positions of responsibility?
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert , I sincerely believe you and people like you should be banned from serving in ANY Government office.
What an idiot! Like the principal would have had time to figure out what was going on, get her firearm out of its locked location, then find the gunman – all before he had killed her and anyone else?
This is a movie fantasy, not real life. Arming everyone to the teeth will just make for more casualties as trigger-happy yahoos whip it out and shoot every person they think is a threat.