Academy (January 20, 2012)--About 95 teachers and staff from the Academy ISD spent their Sunday at the high school taking a concealed handgun license class free of charge.

"We've seen the evil that's in this world, including at Sandy Hook and all the other shootings that have happened, and we want to protect ourselves and the kids around us and be prepared at all costs," said Ashley Grinnan.

Grinnan, a fourth grade teacher, said she was raped and shot by a man in Dallas 10 years ago.

She also said she believes the outcome would have been different if she had been prepared.

"It wouldn't have taken but one pulling it out," Grinnan said about what the thinks a gun could have done for her situation.

"He probably would have fled just like Johnny was talking about in the class...they're not prepared to have people fight back."

Prepared to fight back is also something Academy High School principal Alex Remschel had on his mind.

"We don't want to have to shoot," Remschel said.

"We are prepared for that situation, and it can diffuse difficult situations in a hurry."

Next, the school board will meet to talk about gun policies, which according to Superintendent Kevin Sprinkles, won't be an easy task.

"There's a lot of things you have to consider," Sprinkle said.

Things like state and federal statues.

"I believe the federal statues are going to be the ones hardest to overcome, especially when you talk about liability," Sprinkles added.

Teachers and staff in the class said regardless of whether they'll ever have to pull the trigger, they're now armed with more knowledge, and that's an invaluable lesson.