I feel compelled to respond to Elise Patkotak’s column (Jan. 23). I served proudly, years ago, as a Navy corpsman with the Marines. As such, I was considered a noncombatant but carried a .45 pistol for defense of myself and my patients. I look at the potential of arming school staff as a parallel to that service.

Teachers and other school staff should be allowed to defend themselves and their students with whatever it takes to do the job and should have the choice to carry arms if they wish. I would support school staff having the option to arm themselves but would of course expect them to be properly trained. It is not a choice to be taken lightly; it has great responsibilities that go with it but the possible rewards could be enormous.

Give school staff the option to carry arms.

— John Klapproth

Anchorage