MILLBURY — Lake Schools broached the possibility of arming some school staff during a board workshop on
student safety Saturday.
A group of teachers is opposed to the idea, and many questions remain after a discussion with
representatives of the Buckeye Firearms Association, who appealed to emotion while offering free
training for staff should the board continue to pursue the idea.
"It is not OK for people to sit around and wait to be murdered in a school. It is OK to fight back
and it is OK to start saving lives and to keep yourself alive," said Joe Eaton of the Buckeye
Firearms Association.
"The one thing for certain we’ve seen is that these teachers will die for our kids. They’ve shown
that time and time again. What we want to do is if a teacher is wiling to stand between somebody
murdering kids and to die for those kids is give them any tool that they want to keep themselves and
these kids alive."
State law allows school boards the option to exempt certain staff from firearm restrictions on school
property. Lake Superintendent Jim Witt and school board President Tim Krugh said the next step would be
meeting with the district’s school resource officer, Steve Poiry, and township Police Chief Mark Hummer,
who said he’s interested in learning more but still has plenty of questions.
"I’m in support of any concept that would look at bringing a safer environment to our schools,"
Hummer said.
"I’m certainly keeping an open mind."
Hummer said he’s particularly interested in reviewing the curriculum of Buckeye Firearms’ three-day
training program, which would be offered for free with the exception that participants would be
responsible for their own meals. The police chief also wants to discuss a plan for ongoing training, as
authorized staff would need to work with local law enforcement after completing the course.
Additionally, Hummer said he wants to meet the staff members who are interested in participating.
"I’d like to be given that opportunity because they really are venturing into the law enforcement
mode of what we do. And if they’re going to do that, we’re certainly not territorial, but we want to
know that we’re on the same page as those folks because we’ll be working hand in hand."
The educational content of the training program was discussed only generally Saturday, as it’s important
to keep certain aspects confidential, said Jim Irvine, president of Buckeye Firearms Association.
The names of those permitted to carry weapons on school property would likely also remain secret with the
exception of the board, certain administrators and police. Irvine said he doesn’t even keep a full
record of those who have participated in the training in fear that the names could be made public and
make those people "targets" in the event of a school shooting.
Not all present were as enthusiastic about the idea, including Rick Brimmer of Lake’s teachers’
association, which has about 90 members.
"School shootings are tragic, no doubt about it," he said. "But we think they’re also very
rare."
Brimmer said many teachers would prefer to work with Poiry to try to identify any potential danger before
it happens instead of carrying weapons to respond. He also advocated for additional mental health
training and other resources for security.
At least one other school district had someone present who was interested in learning about the subject
as well.
Sue Larimer, a Perrysburg school board member, said she wasn’t directly representing the board but wanted
to take information back for discussion.
"I would rather be the person in the theater who is able to protect others than to be the sitting
duck," said Larimer, who said she owns both a firearm and a concealed carry license.