Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Suggests Fire Extinguishers Could Be ‘Deterrent’ For School Shootings

As the hot button gun issue continues to rage on, candidates for Maine's open gubernatorial seat are being asked about their stance on gun control, the second amendment and how to ensure safety inside schools. One of the leading candidates on the Republican side, Shawn Moody, suggested a common-sense solution to gun violence in schools right now and it's as simple as...fire extinguishers.

According to The Hill, Moody mentioned in that radio interview that he supports the 2nd Amendment that the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida is because of failures in law enforcement and mental health screening. When pressed further on how to avoid a possible mass shooting in a school in Maine, Moody suggested teachers or students could grab fire extinguishers to help deter the assailant.

“When you think about commonsense things, practical things we could do like, right now, there are fire extinguishers, dry chemical fire extinguishers in every commercial building, school, almost within a hundred feet of wherever you are. And a fire extinguisher can be a great deterrent if somebody gets out of control, or somebody, if anything happens, a teacher, anybody, can break that glass, set the alarm off, grab that chemical fire extinguisher and spray it towards somebody. And I’ll tell you right now that could put them to their knees,”

It's not as illogical a defense as you may initially think. Many experts have included fire extinguishers as a possible deterrent or escape method when faced with dire consequences, such as a shooting. However, to hear a gubernatorial candidate actually use that as a plausible solution to gun violence in schools, left a few people feeling uneasy.

Moody is one of several candidates looking to take the vacated seat of Governor left behind by the outgoing Paul LePage.