Islander teaching in Florida says he'll quit if guns become a job requirement

An Island man who teaches in a Florida city just hours from where more than a dozen students and teachers died in a recentschool shooting says he'll quit his job if teachers in the United States are required to carry guns in the classroom.

Mark Stevenson teaches in Edgewood Academy in Fort Myers, Fla.,two hours from the city of Parkland where 17 students and teachers died two weeks ago.

The tragedy renewed the debate around gun laws in the U.S. and even raised the question of whether teachers themselves should be trained to use firearms.

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Stevenson said President Donald Trump's musings about offering teachers incentives to carry weapons are "very unsettling," and said he would resign as a teacher if that became a requirement.

Hewondered how teachers would keep guns secure and questionedhow a teacher would be able to disarm a shooter in a close space like a classroom.

"What happens if you're trying to disarm the shooter and a student gets caught in the crossfire? How would you live with the consequences?" he said.

'Sad how good we are at doinglockdowns'

Stevenson got emotional when asked about the Parkland shooting Feb. 14. He has daughters in high school and intermediate school in Florida.

It's "surreal," said Stevenson, to think that being an elementary school teacher is a risky job because of the probability of being shot. "It's mind boggling," he said.

"It's really sad how good we are at doinglockdowns," because they have become so routine at the school, Stevenson said.

Lockdowns 'part of our reality'

On Tuesday, Stevenson's own school was onlockdownbecause of nearby gunfire.

"Three gunshots went off and one of the classroom aides that was taking my kids down went right into think mode we all got into my classroom, we covered the windows, she got a fire extinguisher, put herself at the door, we got the kids against the wall crouched down," he said."Sadly, that's part of our reality."

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Stevenson said thiswas the firstlockdownof the year at the school but said last year the school was locked down about every six weeks as it faced the potential of an armed intruder.

The school district providesactive shooter trainingso everyone knows what to do.

Police later confirmed that no one had come onto the school grounds atEdgewoodTuesday.

Hope for a 'sea change'

Stevenson hopesteens now lobbyingfor stricter gun laws will be able to influence political change, he said.

"It's just a tragedy that it's taken 17 more lives to be a catalyst for people really examining the gun culture here," he said. "I hope that there's a sea change because of what's happened."

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