Huey Driver Loc: Texas

I doubt most rational people would challenge these statements? Gun violence is out of control in America these days and our gun laws aren’t working and probably never will as most people intent on evil, never have and probably never will be controlled by laws.

Some will try and say guns (inanimate objects something some don’t seem to understand) are the problem. Many think it’s the AR style rifles in particular are the main problem as they have been used in so many mass shootings and well publicized by the media. America has 20 million AR-15 style rifles in circulation and more total guns than people. Most of these are probably only guns we know about, not the ones kept illegally in hiding. There are numerous other guns out there that are available and as lethal as the AR such as the AK, simply not as well known. Is it reasonable to think that a gun ban or more gun laws of any kind will take guns out of the hands of those who would be inclined to use them illegally (mass shooters, thugs, gang members, drug dealers, etc.)? I think not.

Our precious leaders whom we have elected into powerful positions are on my list of “people who have become too powerful and most of what they do today seems to be more for their own interest rather than what’s good for everyone”. Don’t believe that? How is it so many take positions as average citizens and shortly they are millionaires? They continue to try and pass laws that will probably not affect gun violence much if at all. I think our legislators’ efforts with regard to mass shooters is mostly to make the public think they are constructively working for the public’s interest? Now here in Texas our latest proposal making the news would make it mandatory for each school to have at least one security person on duty during school hours. If not thoroughly thought out this sounds like a good idea. But, many if not most of the security guards I seem to see are fat older and close to retirement, retired or semi-retired men and women similar to myself and at best some law enforcement officers working a spare job part time. I have little or no problem with most police officers working school security if they are in reasonably decent physical shape and not just some fat old badly out of shape men or women.

It seems most of our high school buildings have become monstrous in size in order to accommodate all the kids today. Now imagine this scenario if you will. XYZ school has an enrollment of 2,020 students and the building that houses these students is close to a football field in length. It has one (not in good physical shape) security guard. He or she is at one end of the building when an active shooter enters the opposite end of the building. To do his/her job of protecting those in the building he/she has to sprint as fast as possible to the far end of the building to be of any value in engaging the shooter. If you are a gun owner you probably know it’s hard enough to fire a hand gun accurately when your calm, cool and not gasping for air just to breathe.

While I am not saying the security guard idea is a total waste but is that really the best solution our elected officials can come up with? In my view it’s sort of like using a band-aid to stop bleeding from a main artery.

My best suggestion would be: one or more metal detectors at the main entrances as needed. NO ONE goes in without passing through one of the detectors. All other external doors to be locked electronically with numerous unlock switches throughout the school but only selected teachers or employees have an unlock key that would unlock all doors in case of an emergency exit being necessary.

The problem of gun violence today is not something to just think about, pass some laws you know probably won’t really help much and then slide it to the back burner until it happens again: (this seems to be currently our Nations Modus Operandi). If we continue to do similarly the same as we are doing now and what we have done in the past there is no doubt mass shootings will continue. It has become not just a thorn in our side but it has become an epidemic.

Would my suggestion be expensive: no doubt. Although my suggestion probably might never be 100% effective I have no doubt it certainly would be more effective than what we are currently doing and most of the suggestions I have heard so far.

Cost seems to be the problem? How much is the life of one or more kids, teachers or others worth? How to pay for it? Start by convincing the federal government to subtract all or an annual percentage amount needed to fund the project from the foreign aid we give away too many countries now who would gladly spit on our graves if the money stopped. Let’s help ourselves first and do something for America instead of just sugar coating the problem with more laws that evil will just ignore.

Huey

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Sorry Huey Driver, but cost is NOT really an issue in my mind. Over the last two years the schools and, sorry to say, the teachers unions have been given massive amounts of federal (taxpayer) money. One only has to look at the amount of Covid money totally wasted and all the Covid money currently not spent. The waste, fraud and abuse is just totally massive and criminal. My wife taught for over 30 years and sadly would never do it today. Her biggest gripe, the unions and excessive government involvement.....CHEERS

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

A rock in bad hands killed Abel. A rock in good hands killed Goliath. It is not about the rock. The sooner people stop thinking "gun laws" and start thinking "crime laws" or "mental disease laws" or any laws directed at and affecting animate humans and not inanimate objects the sooner we'll possibly find a solution.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I do not disagree with anything in your post but the shooter in Nashville simply shot out the glass in the doors and walked in. While I love the idea of a metal detector at every door in and out of a school building to check bags etc. for children or others bringing in firearms or other weapons, it would seem more secure doors would also be a benefit. Yes that means our schools would have to invest millions to Billions across the country to beef up security. I also think the idea of volunteer security personnel consisting of retired law enforcement or military would be a benefit. Perhaps the BILLIONS of dollars the federal government doled out to schools for Covid enhancements that were never used could be put to use in this area to provide safety to our children. My understanding is much if not most of that money went to OTHER expenditures in the schools.

Dennis

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I noticed that the Nashville shooter got into the school by shooting out the glass. When I was in junior high, the glass in the doors to the gym (half glass) had cross wiring in them. I doubt that you could shoot out reinforced windows like those.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

A couple of thoughts:

My wife taught middle school science. The school always had at least one armed Resource Officer on duty. Not a "security guard", but an actual member of the local police department whose uniform included a bullet-proof vest.

You can talk about cost of metal detectors and other security devices, but consider what security measures we routinely provide to government buildings, court houses and officials in high office.

As our society continues to deteriorate, with a marked decline in traditional "American values," it has become necessary to provide similar measures in order to protect our children from evil.

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

Highly visible security, such as a LEO, is a simple deterrent which does work in most cases.

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

As would removing moronic restrictions on citizens who have been checked and vetted by the FBI from being armed on school campuses. If at any given moment there would be from a few to many such individuals, unknown and indistinguishable to anyone else, present on campus a shooter would probably be more likely to abandon their plan.

Bill 45

Yes we are a nation of idiots. Because We refuse to ban firearms that are killing our kids.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Yes, it really infuriates me when one of those unattended guns jumps off the table and goes on a rampage. I really like today's firearms as no mentally challenged human need be involved now for them to dispense their evil.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

You say this idiotic bullshit while not wanting to ban everything that harms our children including vehicles, doing something positive about banning those politicians like Biden who has done absolutely NOTHING to stop fentanyl from coming into America, and every other object that can be used to harm children.

I asked you once before, do you STILL own firearms of any type? If so then you deserve to be right at the front of the line of those people you bad mouth for owning firearms that can harm children. You are a lying corrupt hypocrite if you post this bullshit and still own any firearms at all.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Dennis

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Hey Bill, I took my .45 auto to a psychiatrist the other day for analysis, and he actually told me the weapon had absolutely no ill intentions at all.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I love you did that. I had a psychiatrist come to the house to take a look at my collection of quite a large number a year ago with pretty much the same diagnosis. I also had a medical doctor come take a look at one time and my firearms also received a clean and safe bill of health. Not one of them was thought to ever go off and injure anybody on its own.

Dennis

LDB415 Loc: Houston south suburb

Never thought about getting a shrink to do an evaluation. Went with a priest who did an exorcism and declared no evil spirits or intentions in them or anything else in the house either.