Kelly: Armed school guards won't work

soundoff (18 Responses)

1. janetferncruz
   

   Support for the NRA's proposal to put several armed guards in every school would solve, not only the school safety problem, but our unemployment problem. How to pay the hefty cost of all this new government employment? Impose a heft tax on each and every gun. Over time, this would also greatly decrease gun ownership. Viola, many problems solved.

   January 17, 2013 at 2:04 pm |
2. Joseph
   

   People talk about wanting to "do something" wanting "change" and dealing with the violence problem in America but really...you don't want change you want what's easy. It is easy to blame "assault weapons" and put in place a law that just candy coats our delusion pill so that we can feel good about saying we made a "change" and can now get back to our favorite actors in our movies running around with guns. Meanwhile another criminal in the future will skirt the law, acquire a weapon and reek havoc on a sleeping society. If we really want change why not put TRAINED people in place, in our schools, who can react at a moments notice to one of these criminals? Will they be risking their lives along with our children in schools? Do we have to carefully plan the best way to secure the weapons and the TRAINED personnel in our schools. Yes and of course... but that is necessary and if we really value the lives of people; teachers, students, parents, first responders, it is a price we must pay. Just because you dont like guns and the fact that criminals exist who pay no attention to our laws will not stop them. We have to be responsible, smart and ready to oppose them philosophically, intellectually and YES physically. If one of those legs is missing the table topples. We put armed guards at our sporting events, at bars, on planes, around our politicians, our celebrities, outside our gold and silver stores... What is more valuable to us?

   January 17, 2013 at 12:58 pm |
3. Mark
   

   I respectfully disagree with Mr. Kelly; If you go back and look at the sequence of events at the Sandy Hook
   massacre; it took 30 minuites for first responders to arrive at the school. If there was an armed guard on campus
   he would have a radio on his person. Police would have been notified sooner, and the shooter would have to
   deal with the guard. things would have been different. in the end the shooters plans would be interrupted.

   January 17, 2013 at 9:56 am |
4. Ralph Moerschbacher
   

   It is a question of money, hire armed guards and dogs or rebuild Afghanistan. The war is here in America. I a the father of 7 and grandfather of 21. I WILL protect them in ANY WAY necessary to end the threat against them.

   January 17, 2013 at 7:20 am |
5. Ralph Moerschbacher
   

   After 9/11, we had military personnel in the airport I worked in. The only problem was that they did not have any ammunition. Their M-16 presented a formidable appearance and gave some a sense of security. An officer in a school with an AR-15 would be a comforting sight to those in the school. We need to stop all the rhetoric about being afraid of guns and give those sworn to protect us the tools to combat any threat to those we love.

   January 17, 2013 at 7:10 am |
6. Ralph Moerschbacher
   

   I am a 22 year military veteran and a retired police officer. Armed guards will work in schools and for added protection, give them a trained dog. People are more scared of a dog than a weapon. The assailant will concentrate on the dog and the guard may have the advantage. Ralph Moerschbacher, Captain, USAF Retired Vietnam Veteran

   January 17, 2013 at 6:55 am |
7. Bassam
   

   Hi Anderson,
   I have the perfect solution. Having armed guards at every school is not sustainable, and all it does is increase the tax burden on civilians. I propose that a teacher at every school, perhaps more than one teacher at larger schools, get chosen to be armed teachers. They will have to take a firearms course before hand, and twice a year there after. This way it costs the tax payers nothing but the training fees twice a year and they don't have to pay for a full time cop per school! Makes perfect sense... and it is the most economical method to implement such security for our children.
   Regards,
   _b

   January 17, 2013 at 3:28 am |
8. Debbie
   

   My daughter is a teacher in a low income High risk school. In the last few months they have lost 12 teachers. This is burn out in these schools, Teachers are Overworked and underpaid and under appreciated.
   My daughter works easy 9+ hrs a day at the school not counting what shes grading or preparing at home–which she doesn't get pd for! She is making less then 35k a yr for this lousy job. Now do you REALLY want to put guns in the hands of some of these Teachers??? I'm worried enough about her, I don't want to worry that some teacher is going to lose it, or a student gets a hold of a gun!!

   January 16, 2013 at 9:55 pm |
9. GlenO
   

   Well Kelly how do you know it won't work? It sure can't hurt. If it presents a deterient it would be worth it. Most of these school shootings are always around a younger male, normally by himself. If that person knows there is an armed guard to face I put my money on him finding a "Softer" targer to whelm his anger at. Gun control won't resolve this anyway unless you are going to literally take away every pistol, shotgun, etc. from every citizen so that just the bad guys have them. Common sense should tell anyone this!!!

   January 16, 2013 at 9:41 pm |
10. Gus
    

    The armed guard will just be the first victim at the next school shooting!
    Armed teachers, what type of weapon, ammo and magazine capacity will be allowed.
    How will weapon be secured and who will be held liable if that weapon is used accidentally or in a school shooting?

    January 16, 2013 at 12:53 pm |
    • Bob
      

      You are right, and i very much agree. The only issue is this – "gun free zone" without a serious and visible police/security presence – be it a school, a campus or any other institution is a welcome sign for criminals to cause havoc, rampage and murder without any risk to themselves.
      Disarming civilain population in a country full of well armed criminals and without extra police presence is an invitation for more bloodbaths and loss of life. And all the new regulations will only impact law abiding citizens – sadly in US the criminals will get the guns/magazines they need in the foreseeable future.
      There will be no single dimensional solution to this. And coming up with an emotional one size fits all solution will cause only more issues later.. So i think Obama – and i am not a fan in general – is treating it correctly.

      January 17, 2013 at 3:30 am |
11. Debbie Bouteiller
    

    I don't think that tougher gun laws are going to help either. Criminals or mentally challenged people will not follow them. Period. What needs to be done, is stricter background checks, not when you buy a gun, because that just hinders all the collectors, but when you buy the ammo. The ammo is what is used to make the gun dangerous. The Health Care also needs to be overhauled to treat and care for the mentally disabled. Right now, there are not many facilities, that are around to care for them that is covered by insurance. 3 months of treatment for a year is just not enough...and the cost is too much, so they end up on the street...

    January 16, 2013 at 7:40 am |
12. Jeffrey
    

    I believe while many thing of their right to bear arms to feel safe, those who wish not to bear arms also have a right to feel safe. It will be step forward if in addition to this assault weapon band, mental check during purchases, we make it mandatory that all gun owner do a mental check every two year . mental illness is not static

    January 15, 2013 at 9:02 pm |
    • Debbie
      

      I totally agree with you Jeff, There's a big difference between a musket ball , a wad of cloth and some gun powder rammed with a rod and then after you shoot it takes another minute to reload!! Our Forefathers had NO IDEA what today's gun situation would be like. Now We need strong gun registration and a complete mental check and every 2 years is not a bad idea!!

      January 16, 2013 at 10:05 pm |
13. Jeffrey
    

    Having armed guards in our school, for a start will changes the quite and peaceful learning environment, secondly, how much protection can you get from a hand gun of guard against an assault high capacity riffle of a lunatic.

    January 15, 2013 at 8:55 pm |
    • Mike
      

      I dont know about you but im glad my kids school has a police presence.

      January 16, 2013 at 9:03 pm |
    • GlenO
      

      How can one think a trained officer at a school would deteriate the study environment? If anything it would proably support a quiter school environement. Also the on-going issue of bullies, having that armed guard might just also help settle that situaion down that seems to be at upper levels these days. The liberals took away the paddle from our teacher, I personally think that is what we are reaping in today's environment.

      January 16, 2013 at 9:37 pm |
14. Garth
    

    What about those unstable people who do not want to buy an assault weapon, just borrow their mothers, fathers, uncles, friends, emplyoer or someone who they know who already owns an assault weapon?

    January 15, 2013 at 7:08 pm |