Another school shooting, multiple fatalities

[LDAHL]

if we confine the discussion to School Shootings, I think there are a number of things that, working together, could make the schools much safer: (really) secure campuses, ban violent video games and movies for children, re-cultivate respect for Life and authority at least in our children, get (real) mental health and counseling services into every school.

It is my firm belief that unless there is a concerted effort to bring many of the issues together, none will work. It is a complex issue and requires a complex solution.

I think you're right.

This problem strikes me as one you chip away at rather than solve in one big dramatic burst. No tearful Children's Crusade will melt the icy hearts of lawmakers, causing guns to disappear in one grand movie montage. No sophisticated system of abrogating habeas corpus will allow us to detect, detain and disarm the dangerously insane in the style of Minority Report. The NRA could disappear overnight, we could tear up inconvenient sections of the Bill of Rights, we could require small arms training for elementary school teachers certification. It wouldn't matter.

This thing needs to be attacked on a number of fronts long-term. More physically secure schools. A return, perhaps, to the bourgeois cultural values of an era where unhappy middle class kids seldom turned to mass mass murder. Some level of reconsideration of the 1970s mainstreaming trend for certain mentally ill people. Making sure gun owners a are held responsible for making a reasonable effort to secure their weapons. Reviewing our laws (and their enforcement) aimed at reducing the availability of firearms to felons, children or the (demonstrably) mentally ill; while recognizing the burden is on the government to justify limiting citizens' freedoms rather than on the citizens to justify keeping them.

There is no panacea, and we may never be as safe as more docile or highly regulated nations. But with time and work we can perhaps reduce the number of incidents.

[catherine]

So, Trump is proposing that teachers who carry will get Federal bonuses:

Teachers who were qualified to handle a weapon — Mr. Trump estimated between 10 percent and 40 percent — would receive “a little bit of a bonus,” he said, adding that he would devote federal money to training them.

“I want my schools protected just like I want my banks protected,” the president said.

If I were a teacher, I would be so affronted. Teachers resort to using personal funds from their HUGE paychecks (NOT) for needed supplies, and they never get compensation for that, but now, put them in a target range and all of a sudden they're worthy of a bump in income. Honestly, this is outrageous. As Williamsmith said, let teachers teach. (BTW, I truly appreciate and respect the opinions and debate here of those who have actual law enforcement experience.)

[Williamsmith]

I make no bones about it. I am personally dismayed that the President would make arming teachers a cornerstone of his solution to this problem. Furthermore, I think he has received poor counsel regarding the effectiveness of the strategy, the feasibility, and the prudence given the inherent risks involved.

I have heard him brag about how the knowledge that teachers may be armed would serve as a deterrent to an attack. That assumes that a profile of mass youthful murderers includes rational thinking and a will to survive. I don’t find that consistent with the very act itself and the history of the same murderers taking their own life? My experience is that an equal number of similar cowards would consider attacking a school with an armed teacher to be a challenge worthy of martyrdom.

It is unconscionable to pay bonuses to teachers who volunteer to arm themselves. Let the experiment begin. I wonder why Trump insists we need to build a wall on the border but can’t afford a fence and security around our schools.

[iris lilies]

Trumps solution to arm teachers is stupid, but little will come of it. It is just hot air. He is also sepctacularly wrong about active shooters drill and well any safety drill. But whatever, must more air.

Of course all right thinking people know that the federal government should stay out of local education. Donald is not a right thinking guy.

[flowerseverywhere]

The armed security guard NEVER WENT INTO THE SCHOOL

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/22...riff-says.html

this is a problem with arming people. You have to have a tremendous amount of courage and conviction to engage an active shooter. This guard stayed outside knowing these kids were being slaughtered. I know some people think they would have the guts to go on, but I can tell you right now, I cannot imagine any amount of training would have gotten me to run into this situation. Maybe highly trained military special forces have the guts. I suspect many average citizens don’t.

[flowerseverywhere]

I wonder why Trump insists we need to build a wall on the border but can’t afford a fence and security around our schools.

brilliant.

[CathyA]

Arming the teachers is so absurd. First of all, their classrooms are usually far from the main entrance. And foremost........their responsibility is to the students in their class......not running to the gun safe, loading the gun, then leaving their students behind. I'm not surprised Trump mentioned that as his first idea. And I don't think he fooled anyone. It's all so absurd.....and disgusting.

[Williamsmith]

CathyA, I don’t think the majority of scenarios has the teacher headed for a gun locker. No, the fact is, the teacher will have the gun on their person, in a shoulder holster, in an outside the belt holster on the hip, in an inside the waistband holster on their hip, in a holster in their groin area called appendix carry or on their ankle or on their boot like I saw on the news tonight.

Which reminded me of another reason I object to it. I’d like to ask Alan how he feels about direct supervision? The school board would define how, when and where the firearm will be utilized and stored. In the case I saw, the teacher was teaching science and carrying a Glock 26 in his cowboy boot....Colorado. But the school board would not permit him to have a round chambered so he is carrying it Israel or condition 3.

Sounds like a reasonable thing to most people? Except when an incident occurs and he has to make a split second decision to act, he has to confirm a threat, retrieve his Glock from his boot, remember to rack one in under pressure and hope he doesn’t short stroke the slide. If you are not confident enough to have a round chambered.....you shouldn’t be carrying.

[Chicken lady]

Melissa* used hot glue on Helen’s* arm while I was incapacitated by a sneeze. Delilah* took my chair while I was signing an attendance form and I never saw her move. Somebody wants a loaded gun in that room? They are small. They are fast. And there are a lot of them. Heck, when Zach* found out there was a gun in the classroom he would never be able to think about anything else again. You think he’s not going to find out? Have you ever been in a school?

*names changed

[Alan]

If you are not confident enough to have a round chambered.....you shouldn’t be carrying.

Agreed!