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Gun Reports - News

Teacher: Self-Defense with Gun Is a Crime

(GunReports.com)--A reader letter from the Boston Globe online site boston.com began appearing on gun websites last week. Dated Dec. 28, 2009, it was signed with the name Doug van Gorder, who identified himself as a Quincy (Mass.) resident and math teacher at Brockton High School.

Van Gorder said his school was the site of a recent shooting, and he discussed the merits of lock-downs versus evacuations. First, he brought up a shrewd point that most self-defense advocates could agree with.

In his reader letter, he wrote, "Current school security procedures lock down school populations in the event of armed assault. Some advocate abandoning this practice as it holds everyone in place, allowing a shooter easily to find victims."

With situational awareness in mind, this point is worth considering. Intelligent people can debate the pros and cons of the tactic.

But then he wrote: "An alternative to lock down is immediate exodus via announcement. Although this removes potential hostages and makes it nearly impossible for the shooter to acquire preselected targets, it unfairly rewards resourceful children who move to safety off-site more shrewdly and efficiently than others.

"Schools should level playing fields, not intrinsically reward those more resourceful. A level barrel is fair to all fish."

Wow. That statement will rock anyone who believes in the intrinsic right to self-defense. The "resourceful children" should be contained to make them equally available targets in a shooting?

Can anyone really believe that?

But then he adds, "Some propose overturning laws that made schools gun-free zones even for teachers who may be licensed to securely carry concealed firearms elsewhere. They argue that barring licensed-carry only ensures a defenseless, target-rich environment.

"But as a progressive, I would sooner lay my child to rest than succumb to the belief that the use of a gun for self-defense is somehow not in itself a gun crime."

The skeptical GunReports.com reader now has to wonder: Is van Gorder serious? If he's using satire to make the anti-gun/no self-defense pacifists look like idiots, then he has thrown out "A Modest Proposal" as outrageous and effective as eating children in 1729 Ireland.

If, instead, van Gorder actually believes what he wrote, then know what we're up against.

To read the post for yourself, click here.

Reader Comments

I've heard that this Van Gorder post is real, and I've heard that it's fake. I don't know what to believe.

But I told my kids, when they were in school and these shootings began happening, that they had my permission to tear-ass out of there immediately, and knock any teacher who tried to "lock down" my kids on his-or-her ass as they left. Bail out of doors, climb out of windows, or shinny down a drain pipe, whatever you have to do to just get gone.

No one makes a target out of my kids. Screw that "level barrel" crap. And my kids are still alive.

Gaviota

Comment by: Lee W | March 1, 2010

Liberals, I'm sorry, Progressives have always been against Darwinism. They make every effort to thwart Darwinism. I wonder if he would feel the same way when actually faced with the situation?

Comment by: Robert J | March 3, 2010

"Progressive" simpletons like Van Gorder are the reason that mindless "zero tolerance" policies stay in place in American schools.

Comment by: RackEmPunk | March 3, 2010

Since Van Gorder has no objection to being laid to rest he should do it himself and save someone else the trouble.

Comment by: firstsoldier | March 4, 2010

We need to find out if Van Gorder is really a teacher at Brockton High ... how hard could that be? Then ... need to get him fired! What an incredible attitude ... lock my kids in so the shooter has an equal crack at everybody ... good grief ... I see a career on the back of a trash truck for this idiot ...

Comment by: BILL S | March 4, 2010

UNBELIEVABLE!!! You just can not fix STUPID.

Comment by: lightfoot | March 4, 2010

Yeah, that's the American Dream - I'm not good enough to make the time so we make the better kids play with one hand. I can't believe this guy is serious, yet I know there are plenty like him. Wow. You'd rather let your kid die than shoot his/her killer. Wow. Anybody wanna bet van Gorder doesn't have kids? I'm sure he was a cop or soldier before he became a teacher (sarcasm).

The only level barrel I want to see has a sight on it.

Comment by: P V B | March 4, 2010

Sgt,Alvin York, America's Highest decorated Soldier said of his actions during WWI, "I fight, so those who are defenseless will be protected" There is very little differece between crime and war.

Comment by: lotoofla | March 4, 2010

Commom Sense and Social Skills courses should be mandetory at all levels of education. From K to Death.

Comment by: Jim W | March 4, 2010

This is the same "politically correct" educational mindset as not giving graders to student because it makes the "non achievers" feel bad so, they should be given the same grades as the kids who work theuir butts off. It also smacks of the same attitude as giving every kid on a team a trophy so they don't feel bad! Can you see where we're going here? Anything like giving illegal immigrants the same rewards (health care, social security etc) as those who work for them! GOD! I'll be happy when we get over this "political feel good correctness!" And, this poresent administration is condoning this and setting examples of bailing out failed companies with our tax dollars and then, giving enourmous bonuses for those moronic CEOs and administrators whose policies caused the companies to fail in the first place! Stupid Stupid Stupid and, none of our elected leaders including this new and "enlightened administration" seem to have the guts to stop it! Sad! Matbe it's time for those supposedly overdeducated morons like Van Gorder to climb over tose ivy covered walls they've taken refuge behind and mingled with the "Joe Lunchboxes" of the world who have to live each day in a world the "educators" have and continue to creat. "Level Barrel" is just one more BS spouting of their "political correctness" they espouse!

Comment by: bigptr | March 4, 2010

bigptr - IMO, "they" have the guts to stop anything "they" want, but "they" also have a very vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

Comment by: P V B | March 4, 2010

"As a progressive" my hiney. As a moron maybe, but letting your child die because you are too much of a coward to defend it is not a part of the Progressive Party's platform. If so, show me where. At the moment, Dougie gets no respect for his opinions from me. Anyone who would let his kid die for lack of a defense deserves to have his wish come true. A curse upon you, van Gorder.

Comment by: david b | March 4, 2010

"But as a progressive, I would sooner lay my child to rest than succumb to the belief that the use of a gun for self-defense is somehow not in itself a gun crime."

What??? Where does he get this from? It's not theological, based on the Judeo-Christian theology. So, it must be a personal philosophy. It should remain personal; and not perpetrated on citizens. Sure, Jesus taught us to seek peace; however, many people do not realize that He escaped numerous times from certain death -- until his time to die had come. In Luke 4:28-30, His escape was clearly miraculous. People think because He said turn the other cheek, it means you should stand by and let your family be raped, maimed, and murdered. Not so. Scripture never suggests any such thing. That would be cowardice to the high heavens. Yet we should obviously avoid violence until there is absolutely no other choice -- which is very often the case. Died-in-the-wool criminals often have no sensitivity to a peaceful spirit, and see a peaceful man as just another opportunity. Although I have no political party, I must ask, what motivates Democrats? I know; but that's for another post.

Comment by: tovlogos | March 4, 2010

I've always suspected that what drives leftist gun banners is the fear that their inadequacy as a protector of their own families will be more readily revealed when others around them are armed, self reliant and unafraid. They know they don't have the balls to fight (unless they can hire a lawyer to do it for them), thus, no one should be able to.

Comment by: Squirmydad | March 5, 2010

My father was a Deputy, then an elected Sheriff. My dear Mama was a "Matron" of that jail, fed the prisoners,made sure the women were taken care of appropriately. They both wore badges, and both carried weapons.I heard my Mama say to my father one Sunday morning, just as his elected office was beginning.(BTW, as a Matron of that jail,carrying of the gun was not a problem. She grew up on a farm in West Virginia, having to slaughter the cows and pigs. She put food on the table for her old maid aunt and bachelor Uncles.)My father asked Mama, "Dear, you gonna have a problem with the kid's around the jail,like maybe when you have the feeding hole opened?" She said, "What problem?" He said, "Would you have a problem using your weapon if you had too?" She kind of chuckled.(very Christian woman)She said, "Hon, anyone got loose, or tried to hurt my babies, well, no sir, in answer to your question, I would shoot him as many times as it took, just like we practiced." Daddy said, "Thats' all I wanted to know." Mama carried a "Colt Cobra,38 snub nose, right under her apron." What a great Mama she was.She would have died for us, in a heartbeat, or killed the perp.This guy that wrote these letters? If he isn't a lying bastard, then he should have never had a child,or become a TEACHER??!! HOW DARE HE! Ghostman45

Comment by: Ghostman45 | March 5, 2010

The letter did actually appear in the Boston Globe.

I searched the Brockton School website for van gorder with 0 hits. However, the site is password protected so the lack of a hit may only mean that the search wasn't allowed.

http://www.brocktonpublicschools.com/page.cfm?p=3

Barry

Comment by: BARRY P | March 5, 2010

Long before there was an Urban Dictionary, van Wimpo would have been called a Charlie Delta, or cheese d.... I think you get the idea.

tovlogos - I agree with the personal philosophy point you made. No American should be forced to accept and abide by the personal philosophies of others when the interfere with liberty!

Richard V - I like the way you think! van Wimpo did mention wanting to fish in a level barrel, didn't he?

I still can't believe he would sacrifice his offspring to avoid "succumbing" to using a gun. If he really is married with kids, his wife should kick him to the curb faster than Allen Iverson's once he retires!

Comment by: P V B | March 5, 2010

RICHARD V, I think you hit the nail on the head. Good post.

Comment by: Robert J | March 5, 2010

This article took me back to grade school gym class, locked in the gymnasium and participating in a game called "Bombardment". All the little kiddies that didn't move fast were quickly eliminated from the game.

Comment by: Jeff W | March 5, 2010

If you weren't already mystified enough about someone who would let his kid die before succumbing to gun usage, imagine if that same individual espoused that "Diversity trumps the safety and lives of our soldiers, ourselves and our children." http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=66163 (More amazing is that the Stars and Stripes would publish that letter.)

A lot of New Englanders seem to think this is all satire. Check out what the Granite Grok had to say: http://granitegrok.com/blog/2009/12/muddleheaded_progressive_or_closeted_con.html

I've also gotta wonder if this Van Granola guy is a pseudonym for some editor who is trying to get people to read the paper and write in.

Comment by: P V B | March 6, 2010

Here's more: http://www.saysuncle.com/2009/12/28/insanity/

Comment by: P V B | March 6, 2010