I think the teachers and principles that want to be armed that are trained and legal gun owners would be more efficient…

Jon, You could send this to your school board and to your State and Federal Representatives;
First off, let me state this is definitely NOT about Gun Regulations or Gun Bans etc.

It is about, finding a workable and efficient way, to lower the possibility of having such an occurrence happen again, making it safer for Teachers and Children. Since the Emotional Rhetoric in Washington seems to be centered on The tool used in the tragedy, instead of on how to immediately respond to, and correct the known vulnerability of schools around the Nation. Let me offer this possible solution. This can be implemented and fully functional within a week of it becoming Law, provided there is enough political resolve to actually create something that lessens the known threats. The National Paradigm has shifted. Here is a set of alternative measures, which will substantially reduce the risk;

1. Make it mandatory that all teachers receive specific intruder defense training, specific to their individual School Conditions and layout, so their reactions will conform to a workable standard, and be effective should they be called to use them.

2. Training all teachers in the proficient use of Tasers and Spray Devices, requiring all teachers to have them on their person, and ready for use. This would be a work for point/classroom defense, it would give the Teachers, Students, and Staff, a fighting chance to survive until the perpetrator could be permanently subdued. It would also prevent the same Brave but Futile Sacrifice, the Principal and School Psychologist made. Unfortunately that Brave Sacrifice did not save the children, because they did not have means to resist the attacker.

3. Mandate a standardized alert system in all schools with panic buttons, to alert the Teachers, Students, Staff, and Authorities, a dangerous unauthorized intruder is present, and to enact defense protocols until the all clear is sounded. These protocols could be simply locking classroom doors, moving the students to a safer position in the room away from the entry, and having the teachers take up a defensive position where they could disable anyone who came in with a Taser. If a second person came in they could pepper spray and disorient the attacker/s long enough to kick away any arms that they might be carrying until they could be permanently subdued.

4. This is critical since Police Response takes time, and an attacker won’t always come in during classes; I suggest that a Few Volunteers from the school staff, who are able and capable Physically, Mentally, and Psychologically, be given training, and be made special Deputies for their School district. Then they can be armed at the schools, and can stop/hold anyone if the situation requires.
NOTE I do not believe that all teachers should be armed.

I do Advocate all of them have NON-LETHAL DEVICES.

Remember the Tasers and Spray devices are ’NOT’ Lethal Weapons, but would provide a first line of defense that would Save Lives until the Volunteer Staff or the Regular Police arrive on the scene to end the threat. Even if there were mistakes with them, the possibility of a death because of it is so remote as to be next to ZERO.
I leave you with this question; If you personally were faced with a psychotic individual like the ones from Columbine to New Town, bent on killing people for unknown reasons, would you rather be equipped to stop it or defenseless?