Schools look at security procedures

Our local paper, The Star Telegram, ran a story on security at local schools. Pretty much every paper in the country is running a similar story this week in the wake of three recent school shootings. It would be a shame if the end result of the current discussion was a level of security at our schools similar to that used for our prisons. It would be an outrage if further restrictions on the liberties and freedoms of law abiding citizens came about due the the actions of these psychotic killers. Here are some points brought about in our local paper:

"Acts of violence such as these have the potential to induce others to commit similar acts," she wrote.

But securing schools from all violent acts isn't possible, according to a local criminologist."What is so scary is that we have already maximized what is feasible in protecting these facilities," said James Quinn, a criminologist at the University of North Texas. "Unless you're going to put armed guards around schools, you can't defend against it."

With the current philosophy of school security, the above is a true statement.

Grapevine-Colleyville schools spokeswoman Megan Overman said that district has reviewed security plans with campuses and believes that schools are the safest places for children.

"The last few incidents that have happened have targeted kids at schools," Overman said. "Parents are always concerned about the safety of their children's schools, but it could also be anywhere our kids are gathered at a public setting."

That's important to remember, Quinn said.

These attacks can happen anywhere our kids are gathered, but they don't. The paper lists one reason:

And recent school shootings may be highlighting an even seamier side of the criminal mind -- the desire for the world to know what they've done.

"It's guaranteed if you abduct a couple of girls from a local mall, that's local or regional news," Quinn said. "When you take a school hostage, you get national attention. Schools can be attractive to people looking to do harm and make a statement."

The 15 minutes of fame factor is a very large part of what makes our schools targets for goblins, and an even bigger target for terrorist. Remember the Chechen terrorists that attacked a school in Russia? In that incident, over 200 people were killed and 700 injured. There were only a thousand people on campus at the time. The news coverage was world wide, as is the coverage of our recent shootings. The terrorist and the goblins both made their statements on a world wide stage, the terrorist for political reasons and the goblin for psychotic ones.

There is one other reason that our schools are targets of opportunity for goblins and terrorists alike. That reason is the law that requires all schools to be gun free zones. That is utter stupidity. Our laws guarentee the bad guys free reign to do as they wish in our schools. If there are armed guards, a terrorist can make provisions to take out the guard(s) first as they will be identified by their uniforms.

As reported in USA Today, one Wisconsin politician has the right idea:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state lawmaker, worried about a recent string of deadly school shootings, suggested arming teachers, principals and other school personnel as a safety measure and a deterrent.

It might not be politically correct, but it has worked effectively in other countries, Republican Rep. Frank Lasee said Wednesday.

"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," he said. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."

If there is the possibility that there will be unidentified armed people that will step up and stop an attack, the less likely it is that there will be an attack at that establishment. This is the reasoning behind the Air Marshals is it not? These teachers/administrators/janitors/coaches would have to qualify for a state issued concealed carry permit. Further quality training should be required to insure that they can make rational decisions and react appropriately to a dangerous situation. Think about it, one armed and trained person could have stopped any of the three school shootings that are in the news today.

Lasee said he planned to introduce legislation that would allow school personnel to carry concealed weapons. He stressed that it would hinge on school staff members getting strict training on the use of the weapons, and he acknowledged he would have to work around a federal law that bans guns on school grounds.

If you live in Wisconsin, you have a good representative in Lasee, give him all of your support. On this issue at least, he is right as rain.