South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Training could help teachers, students respond to armed intruders

Letters+to+the+editor

To the editor:

In response to previous letters to the editor regarding the issue of arming school personnel so they can protect students from active shooters, I got the impression that this is a theoretical debate. 

I was surprised when I read an article that described how school personnel from over a dozen states have received training on how to protect themselves from active shooters. This includes firearm training. The organization who provides this training is FASTER, which is an acronym for Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response. You can learn more about FASTER by visiting their website at http://fastersaveslives.org.

By visiting their website, I have learned the following: First, the training is provided at no cost. FASTER is a nonprofit program sponsored by Buckeye Firearms Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity. Second, the training is comprehensive. In addition to firearms training, you are also trained in crisis management and hands-on emergency medical training. Third, program experts can meet with school board members to answer questions about policies, procedures, insurance, legal concerns, et cetera.

Before anyone makes a decision about whether or not school personnel should be armed, you need to do your research. 

Consulting with FASTER should be part of that research.

Tim Hessel

Concord

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