{"id":3105,"date":"2013-01-23T20:16:59","date_gmt":"2013-01-24T03:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stapletonion.com\/?p=3105"},"modified":"2013-01-23T20:16:59","modified_gmt":"2013-01-24T03:16:59","slug":"nra-generously-donates-500-firearms-to-local-schools-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stapletonion.com\/?p=3105","title":{"rendered":"NRA Generously Donates 500 Firearms to Local Schools, Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>Too often the National Rifle Association (NRA) comes off as greedy, self-serving, and sometimes even crazy. But recently the NRA is looking to change that perception, and they took one of their first big steps in Stapleton in Denver. \u201cThis community seemed like the perfect place to begin the new story of the NRA,\u201d said NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. \u201cA story of giving, and more than anything, a story of caring.\u201d LaPierre along with the NRA has agreed to donate several hundred guns to Stapleton\u2019s schools, in what he believes should help make parents, teachers, and most importantly kids, feel safer. Local parent Nikki Witherow agrees. \u201cAfter 911, I was strongly in favor of passengers being able to carry guns,\u201d says Witherow. \u201cThat way, if a bad guy has a gun, at least a bunch of good guys have guns, and no one can argue that the ONLY way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.\u201d\nLongtime Denver Police officer and current Denver Sherriff Joel Lair disagrees. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t even make sense,\u201d says Sheriff Lair. \u201cThat\u2019s why we have police negotiators who often talk down people with guns, and there are countless other examples of people without guns disarming people with guns through physical force. It\u2019s a pretty stupid saying.\u201d\nBut it is not stupid to the local teachers, most of whom already feel safer. \u201cI think it is going to just put me at ease,\u201d said local teacher Steve Doyle. \u201cI mean, how is a bad guy going to get a gun into a school that has dozens of guns already? They can\u2019t. That\u2019s your answer.\u201d The main issues some residents have with the new guns is the lack of training teachers may have in regards to shooting one, their ability to handle a serious crisis, and potentially their ability to take another person\u2019s life. Although over 20% of Stapleton\u2019s teachers were previously special forces in the military, another 70 to 80 percent have never fired a weapon.\n\u201cIf I can deal with one kid throwing up while another is trying to cheat on a math test, I am pretty sure I can handle anything,\u201d said Doyle. \u201cI mean, if all these uneducated NRA people can figure out how to shoot a gun, I am sure I can.\u201d Although local leaders agree that shooting a gun is probably pretty easy, there will be weekend courses available for teachers who choose to carry a gun. \u201cWe are going to set up firing ranges,\u201d said SUN President Mike Victoria. \u201cThe community wants to make sure the teachers have had plenty of practice. There will be two temporary firing ranges in Stapleton, one of which will be in the Eastbridge Town Center, and the other will be in the undeveloped area near the control tower.\u201d\nGuns will be distributed to area teachers based on position of authority and then tenure. \u201cI have only been in this district for a year and a half,\u201d says teacher Laura Barry. \u201cSo, I\u2019m not counting on getting a really good gun, but at least I will get one. That\u2019s the important thing.\u201d LaPierre plans on being in Stapleton on \u201cgun draft\u201d day and plans to kick it off with an inspiring speech. \u201cIt is not finalized yet, but I will definitely point out that with all these guns in the Stapleton community, residents can look forward to years of safety and prosperity.\u201d ]]>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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