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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 6 July 2019
Armed Utah teachers practice responding to school shootings

to properly aim and unload
a firearm. They also went
over de-escalation tech-
niques, self-defense and
medical responses such as
how to pack a wound and
tie a tourniquet on a child.
Officers spent months de-
signing the course and lo-
cal businesses donated
money and equipment.
Attendees paid $20 to par-
ticipate.
Between bites of pastries,
teachers relayed their
fears:
"Will the gunman leave af-
ter I shoot them?"
"How do I protect the chil-
dren when they come?"
The sun stretched over the
mountains as teachers put
down their coffee and
strapped into bulletproof
vests, goggles and protec-
tive head gear. Above the
ringing of gunshots, some
teachers discussed summer
vacation plans and class-
room supply lists.
Sandy Grow, a special
needs educator at a Lehi
middle school, said the
massacres at Parkland and
Sandy Hook left her feeling
unsafe at work. A gunman
killed 17 people at Marjory
Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida,
last year. In 2012, 20 chil-
dren and six educators
In this Saturday, June 29, 2019, photo, Cindy Bullock, Timpanogos Academy secretary, participates in shooting drills at the Utah were killed in a shooting
County Sheriff's Office shooting range during the teacher's academy training, in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah. at Sandy Hook Elementary
Associated Press School in Newtown, Con-
necticut.
SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP) inside a warehouse set up schools, let's make sure cause undue stress or harm. "The idea of being trapped
— Nancy Miramontes had to look like a school, then they know how to handle "Are police tasking teachers in a classroom with my stu-
30 seconds to find the gun- moved outside to a shoot- them safely," Smith said. to perform a law enforce- dents and not being able
man. ing range. At least 39 states require ment responsibility by arm- to protect them bothered
The Utah school psycholo- Active shooter training for lockdown, active-shooter ing them to protect others? me," she said. "I want to de-
gist weaved through a educators is becoming or similar safety drills, ac- We have to be cautious of fend them and keep them
maze of dusty halls before more common nationwide, cording to the Education what we ask people to do safe, not be a sitting duck."
spotting him in the corner and Utah is one of several Commission of the States. in these traumatic, stressful Mike Ericksen thinks a lot
of a classroom, holding a states that generally al- Other states have less ex- situations," said Ken Trump, about how to keep stu-
gun to a student's head. low permit holders to carry plicit requirements or leave a school safety expert with dents safe at Mountain
She took a deep breath guns in public schools. Oth- it to districts. Utah requires the National School Safety View High School, where
and fired three shots, the er states, including Florida its elementary schools to and Security Services con- he's the principal and his
first time she's ever used a and Texas, have programs conduct at least one safe- sulting firm. son is a student. In 2016,
gun. One bullet pierced that allow certain teachers ty drill each month, and Miramontes said her teach- before he began working
the shooter's forehead. to be armed if they are ap- its secondary schools to er friends in Utah and other there, five students were
"Nice work," a police officer proved under a set of stipu- have detailed emergency states debated about it on stabbed in the boy's locker
told her as they exchanged lations. response plans. The fire- Facebook. But after the room. Reloading his hand-
high-fives in front of card- Utah County Sheriff Mike arm training is voluntary, training, she said she felt gun for target practice, Er-
board props representing Smith said the popularity but the Utah County Sher- empowered. icksen said the training has
the gunman and student. of concealed carry permits iff's Teachers Academy al- "I know how to protect my- left him better prepared
Miramontes recently joined in Utah makes such train- ready has a waiting list for self and my students now; I to fight back if someone
30 other Utah teachers at ings even more important. its next four-week program. know what to expect if the threatens his school.
a series of trainings where About half the teachers Despite increasing preva- worst happens," she said. "I'm more confident in
police instructed them on brought their own hand- lence, some school safety At the recent session, offi- my skills and what to do if
how to respond to an ac- guns to the shooting range. experts aren't in favor of cers showed teachers how something happens," he
tive shooter. Teachers went "If teachers are going to firearms training and worry to disarm a gunman, where said. "I'm not as nervous
through the shooting drill be bringing firearms into that such lessons could to shoot on the body, how now. I can help."q