Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
(clearly, i realize this is going off topic, but hopefully in a good way as i see it tying right into the reasoning why pa gun show debacle occurred)
i hear ya, bill - and totally agree.
how do you protect and defend in a school? imho, with FORCE if need be. what is "force"? trained personnel carrying weapons.
to me, this is so stupidly logical that even children can both understand and agree. but the politcos will not hear of it. instead, they'll just make it harder to own a gun, will not allow armed security in most schools, will not allow teachers to legally carry (CCW) in schools, will not allow ANY guns in schools. just totally insane and setting the picture up for another newtown.
Wow Rob could you get me going on this one! We have a governor I support for the most part, but he just vetoed legislation that would have permitted concealed carry in way more places in our state including schools. At the same time, Texas is training teachers to shoot and carry. I am thinking Texas has its head on straight, and we still have too much influence from the east side.
I work for a company that specializing in K-12 school construction. I see firsthand what happens in schools for security. I hear all about the issue, and I have been part of many discussions on school security. You can imagine what has been going on recently for me. The talk of bullet proof glass, special locks in classrooms, boarding up windows, closing off window between halls and rooms……………. Is very interesting to see what people think will make a school safer. The reality is that unless you have a huge budget, you can’t do a whole lot to really make a school safe from really motivated psychotics with any reasonably well thought out plan. Honestly, my basic house with nothing special but a dead bolt is probably more secure than a school.
The building and safety codes for schools are all about getting out of the building for student safety. It is about lots of doors and in non-fire suppressed building, big exit windows in every student occupied room. This makes security mostly only effective against those with less than mass murder intentions. It is impossible to secure a building when all it takes is a rock to get in.
Up until recently, most schools were way more concerned with the problems with kids, busses, and parents in parking lots than with armed intruders. That was because parents with cars ignoring signs and rules is a way bigger safety issue than mass murders.
I have also worked on jails and prisons. Those are very different than schools. I don’t want my kids school being in a prison. In addition, I do not want them to feel like they are so at risk that they have to be in lockdown all the time.
I do believe we need to do more to keep our kids safe. We should continue to do the right things to make schools reasonably safe and improve where possible. Schools as impenetrable fortresses and gun control are not viable and reasonable solutions for dealing with a few nuts and some serious issues with our current society. I have no problem with properly trained staff and visitors having a gun in a school. I know that they will make a difference if someone comes in the building with bad intentions.
If I was to worry about my kids and school, it would be that they would be hurt on the bus, crossing a crosswalk, on the playground, or playing sports. These things carry far higher likelihood of serious injury or death then being shot in school. I read something a while back about kid’s safety in school related activities. I think something like 700-800 school kids are killed every year going to or coming from schools. Most in private vehicle, walking and biking accidents.
Life is unpredictable and none of us will survive it. I believe it being prepared as best as you can for today, tomorrow and eternity. Then live life without fear or the need for politicians to do something to give you false sense of security so you can sleep at night.
Topic: Gene and Barry Wensel Defend the 2nd Amendment (Read 10163 times)
