Sheriff supports armed school employees

    Jackson County Sheriff Andy Louderback and Officer Craig Repka spoke to Industrial Independent School District board members on Dec. 9 about their position on having selected school employees armed to respond if there ever was a threat by an individual carrying a weapon at any of the IISD campuses.
    “The whole community felt like the school board needed to hear their views on weapons and school employees,” Superintendent Tony Williams said.
    Louderback said he wanted board members to understand the options available and what law enforcement is seeing on a daily basis with society. 
    He said gun-free zone signs declare that the establishment is gun free. Louderback said the sign doesn’t do any good when someone comes into the zone with a gun who intends on killing people. The sign also tells the armed intruder there are no guns on the premises so they can walk in and shoot people without being shot. 
    He said some people don’t feel comfortable allowing school employees to have guns at schools.
    “I understand the mental discomfort it gives school officials to think that there will be an actual firearm on a qualified employee at a school district who can be relied upon to respond and make an effective challenge in a crisis,” Louderback said.
    He said the types of security changes being made to a school every time a shooting occurs isn’t going to prevent another shooter. Louderback said some individuals realize it is time for a few select school employees to carry a gun in order to protect the students and other employees.