Order Number |
1425369524 |
Type of Project |
ESSAY |
Writer Level |
PHD VERIFIED |
Format |
APA |
Academic Sources |
10 |
Page Count |
3-12 PAGES |
`· Respond to your peer by evaluating the extent to which you think the ethical theory helps to resolve the issue or problem, or by considering how a different ethical perspective may address it more effectively.
PEERS RESPONSE:
Engage with the community:
My community has been discussing whether or not to arm teachers with guns once they are subjected to background screenings and psychological evaluations and have received training. The program that Virginia wants to implement is not to supplant or replace school resources offices but to add another layer of security to the school by arming teachers and staff members (Trung, 2018).
Apply the theory:
According to Thames (2018), “Utilitarianism is the theory that morally right actions, laws, or policies are those whose consequences have the greatest positive value and least negative value compared to available alternatives (Section 3.1). When deciding whether or not to arm teachers with guns one must weigh the pros and cons of teachers being armed. These teachers and staff member would need to be carrying their guns while on school grounds which leads to obvious practical and moral problems. Looking at this issue through a utilitarian approach will produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Evaluate the reasoning:
No, it does not differ from the issue that is currently being addressed because the state agency rejected VA schools district plan to arm employees because not having teachers armed was for the greatest number of people.A utilitarian approach would say that there is a possibility that teachers can unintentionally kill or wound students when trying to save them. Would having armed teachers at school even when they are not engaging the shooter would mean that they need to carry guns while on school grounds. The gun could not be safely locked away because it may be too late when an attack happens. There may also be the possibility of an accidental discharge where the concealed weapon accidentally fires while someone is adjusting their holster or a woman digging in her purse. What if a student gets their hands on a teacher’s gun? There can also be a worry that an armed teacher may be mistaken for a shooter when police arrive at the scene in the confusion of the engagement and the police will have to sort out the good guys with guns from the bad guys with guns. A Utilitarian approach would present the better response that arming teachers with guns does not present the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I think that this theory presents an adequate response to the issue and weighs the pros and cons before coming to a decision of what produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. According to a Utilitarian approach it would suggest that arming teachers would not produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I do not think that it raises other problems or concerns because it does weigh both the pros and cons before coming to a decision. I think that it looks at all aspects of the problem and figures out what would produce the best outcome for everyone. Even though arming teachers with guns would help teachers be able to save more students than not having an armed engagement but the moral concern about the possibility of teachers accidentally killing students and engaging with a shooter may cause unintentional casualties.
Thank you, Dustina
References:
References
Thames, B. (2018). How should one live? An introduction to ethics and moral reasoning (3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu (Links to an external site.)
Truong, D. (2018, September 24). State agency rejects VA school district’s plan to arm school employees. Retrieved from https://www.fredericksburg.com/news/va_md_dc/state-agencyrejects-va-school-district-s-plan-to-arm/article_11e9c394-bfe4-11e8-b6ed-d3c6938e1bb7.html (Links to an external site.)