Frances Kai-Hwa Wang with her son at a community event at Washtenaw Community College, currently a gun-free zone. Photo courtesy Andrew Fang, Photasa.com

The evening before the tragic Connecticut school shooting, Michigan's legislature worked late into the night during their lame-duck session. In that marathon legislative push, lawmakers voted to permit concealed firearms in schools, childcare centers, places of worship, sports venues, medical facilities, and similar locations.

Just hours following the Connecticut tragedy, Michigan Republicans earned recognition from the New York Times for making "the second-most awful remark on one of the worst days in American history," trailing only Mike Huckabee's comments about God and public education. Regarding the Thursday evening legislation permitting concealed weapons in educational and public spaces, House Speaker Jase Bolger suggested that armed teachers returning fire might have meant "the difference between life and death for many innocent bystanders."

What strikes me most is how my children respond to emergency preparedness drills with such calm indifference. Fire drills, tornado warnings, lockdown procedures—they've practiced responses to every scenario imaginable. The coded public address announcement triggering a lockdown sounds disturbingly ordinary. My daughter matter-of-factly explains the school has two distinct lockdown protocols: one for threats inside the building, another for dangerous situations developing in the surrounding neighborhood. Their untroubled acceptance of these realities troubles me deeply.

Our educators deserve gratitude. They already shoulder immense responsibilities for modest compensation. Now some propose adding armed response to their job descriptions. Teachers shouldn't be expected to shoot back. Thank you to the teachers and their unions who spoke out against this legislation.

When my children were younger, I wouldn't allow playdates or overnight stays at households with firearms. Asking "Do you have guns in your home?" felt awkward and intrusive, but I asked anyway. I insisted that one family member remove his weapon before we'd visit for an extended stay. Young children's natural curiosity, adult carelessness, and lethal weapons create an unacceptable risk.

Now Michigan Republicans want to send my children to schools filled with concealed firearms?

Governor Rick Snyder: Please, veto Senate Bill 59! Keep guns out of our children's schools!

Today the kids and I plan to attend Sing Along with Santa. Each year, my son asks Santa some challenging questions—about handling bullies, managing homework, whether Santa enjoys mochi, how he enters chimneyless homes. This year, I want to ask Santa something too. I can't imagine who else might have an answer.

Additional perspectives from the Michigan Education Association: Michigan teachers union president urges governor to veto gun bill after Connecticut school shooting and from the American Federation of Teachers: AFT Urges Michigan Gov. Snyder to Veto Gun-in-Schools Bill

Share your thoughts with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder about the gun legislation here.

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a second-generation Chinese American originally from California, now dividing her time between Michigan and Hawaii's Big Island. She contributes to New America Media Ethnoblog, Chicagoistheworld.org, PacificCitizen.org, and InCultureParent.com. She co-teaches Asian Pacific American History and Law at University of Michigan campuses and speaks frequently on Asian Pacific American and multicultural topics. Visit her website at franceskaihwawang.com and her blogs at franceskaihwawang.blogspot.com and rememberingvincentchin.com.