Protecting our Schools after Sandy Hook, CT

A high school friend on Facebook asked me my thoughts on having armed police in the halls of our school. He was expecting a short, quick response about his recommendation for not arming the teachers and administrators, but the use of Tazers. This was my long thoughts:

I too am opposed to arming teachers and school employees, but since violence, disrespect, weapons, etc. have come into our schools via outsiders, students and parents, schools need protection.

You asked my thoughts, and I have a lot of them. I do think people overall need education and training in respecting guns or weapons of any kind, and the laws concerning them. After all, It is the knowledge and attitude of the person who uses them, whether for good or evil.

We have fire drills, lock-down practice, some schools have metal detectors at the doors, and even individual pat-downs for weapons. We have police come on campus to remove violent or law-breaking students--even at the middle school level in the 21 Century, so why not consider having a trained officer on duty in the school for protection when needed or to be an authority of respect the laws of the life, liberty and the land.                                

Remember at all school shootings teachers and principals died or were wounded protecting their kids. Arming them with guns or Tasers might have been some differences, but the killers had the element of surprise and an arsenal prepared when they planned and went into the school grounds. 

Obama had two good recommendations for protecting our children, but the problem is not banning guns. 1) Give more money to hire police officers to be visible in the schools, and 2) hire more counselors to work with mental health concerns in youth, community and the victims in the any tragedy.

I think it is a tragedy that government cut education monies for teachers, books and supplies, but they can come up with millions for protection of our precious children. But that is another thoughtful discussion.