Persuasive Speech On Guns In Schools

Jacob Stoutt
Speech 103\UO7
April 6, 2016
Guns In Schools
Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to support teachers with proper training being allowed to carry guns in school.
Thesis: Teachers carrying guns in schools could greatly improve the safety in our schools.
Introduction:
(Attention Getter) How many of you have heard of or seen a school shooting on the news? (Thesis) Teachers carrying guns in schools could greatly improve the safety in our schools. (Relevance) This is important for you because it could mean the difference between life and death for every person in this classroom. (Credibility) After studying the proposed policy and hours of research I am here to share the information I have found with you. (Preview) First, I will
give you specific examples of situations where this policy could have saved many precious young lives. Then I will explain how teachers carrying guns in schools can be beneficial to the safety of our children.
Transition: First, let's talk about some well know school shootings you can relate to.
Body:
I. There have been many school shootings in the United States Of America. A. Columbine was a major school shooting in Colorado. 1. This shooting occurred on April 20, 1999. (History.com Staff pg.1) 2. Two teens went on a shooting spree leading to the death of 13 people and wounded more than 20 others. (History.com Staff pg.1) a.
The shooters were Eric Harris, 18 and Dylan Klebold, 17. (History.com Staff pg.1) b. The shooters later turned the guns on themselves. (History.com Staff pg.1) c. The teachers at this school were not allowed to carry guns. d. They did however have an armed officer on site and yet the two shooters were still able to kill 13 people. (History.com Staff pg.1) B. Sandy Hook is another school shooting that happened at an Elementary school in Newport Conneticut. 1. Happened on December 14, 2012. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” pg.1) 2. The shooter was a 20 year old named Adam Lanza. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” pg.1) a. He killed his mother and then used her guns to carry out the attack. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” Pg.1) b. Inside the building he killed 20 students and 6 adults. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” pg.1) c. The school had a new security system which made it where you have to be buzzed in by the main office. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?”
pg.1) d. The shooter shot his way through the door into the building. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” pg.1) e. Teachers at this school could not carry guns. (“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” pg.1) f. If teachers had had guns they could have heard him shooting the door and reacted in a way that could have possibly ended only one life being Adam Lanza's.
Transition: Now let's talk about how teachers carrying guns in schools could result in improved safety for children.
II. Guns in schools could help to minimize the effects of attempted school shootings. A."The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."( Madison, Lucy. Pg.1) 1. For teachers to be allowed to carry guns they should have to pass a mental exam as well as a gun safety exam and an in range shooting exam. 2. If a teacher can pass all of these tests and has never exhibited any behavior that would suggest they can not handle this responsibility then why not let them carry. B. As Americans we have a tendency to protect things that are important to us.( Madison, Lucy. Pg.1) 1. We value our money so there are armed guards in many banks.(Madison, Lucy. Pg.1) 2. We value the life of our president so he is escorted by secret service men and women anywhere he goes. ( Madison, Lucy. Pg.1) a. We neglect however to protect the most vulnerable group in our society. ( Madison, Lucy. Pg.1) b. Children think of schools as a safe haven from the dangers of the outside world so shouldn't we protect them there like so. ( Madison, Lucy. Pg.1)
Transition: To conclude I would like to ask you to take action and help push to get this policy enacted in our state.
Conclusion:
(Summarize Main Points) Guns in schools could greatly help in the fight to protect our most precious American citizens. (Summarize Thesis) If teachers are permitted to carry guns on school grounds it can greatly improve the safety of our public schools. (Call to Action) To get this policy enacted we need to call our state representatives and let them know that there is a desire to keep our children safe in their everyday enviroment.
References
History.com Staff. “Columbine High School Shootings.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/columbine-high-school-shootings. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017.
Madison, Lucy. “NRA: Guns in Schools Would Protect Students.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 21 Dec. 2012, www.cbsnews.com/news/nra-guns-in-schools-would-protect-students/. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017.
“Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting: What Happened?” CNN, Cable News Network, www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017.