The recent Texas school shooting shows why we cannot depend on police for protection. Republicans are right – the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Here’s my modest proposal: 1. Don’t raise the legal age to own a gun; eliminate it. Arming teachers is not enough, so; 2: arm the children.

Young boys play with toy guns. Why not put those skills to good use? Teach basic gun safety at an early age and progress from there. After training, give them a gun appropriate to their age and skill level: first graders get legacy .22 single-shot derringers; sixth graders a 9 mm AB-10 with 10-round clip. As children have fewer inhibitions, they would be more likely to protect their classmates than their teachers.

Arming children will also teach self-sufficiency and independence. Realizing the “nanny state” will not protect them promotes personal responsibility in all aspects of their lives. The downside is damaged self-esteem when they discover they are simply collateral damage to someone else’s definition of freedom.

Having a small (literally) militia at each school should discourage school shootings, or at least reduce the carnage. This proposal has the benefit of being more practical than all the other ideas put forth at the recent NRA convention. After all, a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. (P.S. For U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s benefit, this is satire.)

Mark Stetz

Durango