School Safety, the Second Amendment, and Common Sense

We Can Protect Our Kids Without Abandoning Our Rights

There’s a lot of noise right now around school safety, guns, and the Second Amendment. Too much shouting. Too many false choices.

I want to be very clear about where I stand — and why.

I support the Second Amendment.

I also support safe schools, protected teachers, and children who can learn without fear.

Those positions are not in conflict.

The Problem With the Current Conversation

Every time there’s a tragedy, the conversation jumps straight to the same place:

Take away rights first, figure out the details later.

That approach doesn’t work — and it hasn’t worked.

I have never seen a firearm pull its own trigger.

Violence happens because of human behavior, untreated mental health issues, system failures, and missed warning signs. If we want real solutions, we have to address causes — not scapegoats.

School Safety Starts Long Before a Crisis

Most school tragedies are not random. They are preceded by warning signs:

Changes in behavior

Emotional distress

Isolation

Explicit threats that go unaddressed

Too often, schools don’t have the staff, resources, or authority to intervene early.

That’s where the focus should be.

Real school safety means:

Strong mental health support in schools

Clear threat assessment protocols

Communication between educators, counselors, administrators, and families

Early intervention instead of reactive punishment

None of this requires violating the Second Amendment.

Mental Health Is Not a Side Issue — It’s Central

If we are serious about protecting students and staff, mental health must be treated as essential infrastructure, not an optional add-on.

That means:

More counselors, social workers, and psychologists in schools

Faster referral pathways for students in crisis

Removing the stigma around asking for help

Prevention works when we invest in people, not just policies.

Teachers Are Educators — Not Security Guards

Let me say this plainly:

Teachers should not be expected to carry the burden of school security on their backs.

They are not law enforcement. They are not soldiers. And they should not be treated as expendable.

If a police officer doesn’t have to pay for the lead in their bullets, a teacher shouldn’t have to pay for the lead in their pencils — or be forced to absorb safety failures caused by underfunding and neglect.

School safety is a state responsibility, not something educators should be left to manage alone.

What About Physical Security?

Schools should feel safe — not like prisons.

That means:

Properly trained school security professionals

Controlled access points

Calm, clear emergency planning that is practiced — not fear-driven

Security should reassure students and staff, not traumatize them.

Enforce the Laws We Already Have

We already have laws addressing:

Illegal possession

Domestic violence restrictions

Straw purchasing

Passing new laws means nothing if existing ones aren’t enforced consistently and fairly.

Accountability matters — and it has to apply to systems, not just individuals.

Responsible Gun Ownership Is Part of the Solution

Treating lawful gun owners as the enemy is a mistake.

I support:

Safe storage education

Voluntary training opportunities

Incentives for responsible ownership

When you work with responsible citizens instead of against them, you get better outcomes — and more trust.

Where I Draw the Line

I do not support:

Punishing law-abiding citizens for crimes they didn’t commit

Politicizing tragedy

Using fear as a substitute for real solutions

I do support:

Protecting students and educators

Addressing root causes of violence

Defending constitutional rights

Investing in prevention, not panic

Final Thought

You don’t protect schools by tearing up the Constitution.

You protect schools by fixing broken systems, supporting educators, addressing mental health early, and acting before tragedy strikes.

Minnesota can do better — and we should demand solutions that respect both safety and liberty.