Jonathan Martin in police custody after Instagram post

[Otis Driftwood]

Probably as good a time as any...

The town in this CNN piece is 25 miles west of here - population 363. I have been in that school at least 10 times over the last 12 years attending basketball tournaments and following my grandsons around. It is typical of the small towns around here. The sign in front of the school is the same sign (with a different mascot) in front of the school my grandsons attended and sadly is the norm up here in small towns like Callisburg. And - I know a couple of the "trained" teachers - all certified by county law enforcement. They will not hesitate to protect the kids.

I'm not convinced that arming teachers in large schools is a good idea. Way too many variables to deal with in those tinderboxes. But I am pretty damn certain if someone walked into these little schools with intent to do harm, they would not walk out.

This is our normal right now. And screw Jonathan Martin. Lock his ass up.

Step inside the Texas school district that already arms its teachers
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/health/texas-guns-school-district-trnd/index.html

They wouldn't be walking out anyways given that the overwhelming majority plan to die during the shooting.

Nicholas Cruz wouldn't have walked out if this guy did something: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/02/22/armed-sheriffs-deputy-stayed-outside-florida-school-while-mass-killing-took-place/

Harris and Klebold's body count would have been significantly lower had these guys done something more than stand around: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-really-happened-at-columbine/

When Americans talk about arming teachers, staffing veterans, etc. it means they've given up. They're scared. They're weak. They don't care enough to seriously evaluate why this happens and what they can do about it. They're not strong enough to make any sacrifices. It's more important to look tougher and stronger while clinging to violence and force as their only means of solving problems (Gee, who does that sound like...)

I should also point out that this (arming teachers) isn’t something that took place over night in Callisburg and the other small school districts around here. This started 4 years ago... after Sandy Hook. That’s what is so damn exasperating about the recent events. Our leaders haven’t learned a damn thing... and they still won’t lead. Until there is a serious effort by sane people to come to some level of understanding that makes a significant difference, here we are.

[Duke4life831]

As someone who was picked on all throughout elementary, middle School and the first year or so of high school because I had a speech impediment and was socially awkward. I am truly sorry for all the stuff that Martin had to go through. And stories like that usually hit pretty hard with me.

With that said I think they need to take this as a legit threat of violence and not just as a cry for help. We know that he has battled severe depression, has attempted suicide multiple times and now this. He appears to be a legit threat to himself and to others. I'm a gun owner but instances like this is where someone should not own a gun. This has all the signals of him using that gun on himself or on others at some point. He is clearly struggling with mental illnesses. He needs to be under someone's care until it is clear he is no longer a threat to others or himself.