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[Parrotheadvol]

I'm not a gun guy, I own zero guns (I'm not really allowed to. I shot my wife with a nail gun a few years ago - accidentally of course (sort of). So a real gun would be a big no go). But, I'm certainly not aniti-gun as I do like the fact that I do have the right to own guns should I choose to do so. I would consider supporting any law that could realistically prevent these types of events. But like Shutter, I have zero faith that any laws would do that. When I drop my 11 year old off at school, there is a police officer at the front door. He stays in that spot all day long and that front door is the only way in and out of the school during school hours. All other doors are locked. My daughters high school has no less than 2 armed officers on campus at any given time. This, of course doesn't meant something like this couldn't happen at either place. But, I feel better knowing that there is at least someone at each school with a gun that can shoot back if need be. The biggest problem that I see with gun laws is that there is no law that is going to remove the millions and millions of these guns that are already out there. That horse has already left the barn.

[Parrotheadvol]

One other thing I will add. This Thursday our school board is having a town hall meeting to discuss other steps that can be taken to keep our kids safe. I hope this is happening in other places as well. I'll update anything that is decided. I personally won't be able to attend as I am traveling to Texas and Mississippi this week.

It would be nice to see this not be a political issue, both locally and nationally. Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on, protecting innocent children should not be political.

[Shutter]

Security and locked door are a very good defense..laws most of the time are nothing but Band-Aids...just because you take the spoon away doesn't mean you can't eat....

Security measures nation wide should of went into affect after Columbine in 1999!

Wakeup people?

[Bruce A. Smith]

Safety is tricky. Parkland's HS had an armed cop stationed full-time on campus, as I understand the situation - yet he couldn't stop the rampage. I'm not even sure what he did, if anything during the six-minute shooting spree.

Locally, two kids got shot at my local high school a couple of months ago. It was local news, but didn't made the Big News - it was a fight just off-campus over a girl. 20 years ago it would have been a shuffle. Now, a Glock is involved. Both kids survived, fortunately. There was a cop on the campus, but by the time he got the info the shooting was long over.

Do we need to build really big bunkers to educate our kids? Whew. Up-Armor our classrooms with Kevlar insulation on the walls and bullet-proof glass for the windows?

Since the early 1980s, NYC has equipped its high schools and middle school with metal detectors, single-entry access, and back-pack inspections, It seems to work. Parkland's HS/MS had a sprawling campus with many buildings and many entrances. They may need to reconfigure their campus.

One issue remains: what do we do with our angry, defiant children? How do we help them become worthy citizens? When I worked in foster care with sex offenders, I used to preach to my colleagues that young men who care about others don't need rules. They will automatically do the right thing regardless of the circumstances. I'm not against rules, and they certainly provide a wonderful structure that is absolutely necessary at times - but the bigger goal, and tougher task - is to help our kids care about others, develop the courage to ask for help, and feel loved and worthwhile.

[Shutter]

Do we need to build really big bunkers to educate our kids? Whew. Up-Armor our classrooms with Kevlar insulation on the walls and bullet-proof glass for the windows?

Little dramatic?

As Parrot mentioned earlier. LOCK the doors to a single entrance. yes, security is a must. you act as if these kids are not educated about violence in this country, or anywhere else. why do we have so many gated communities? nobody wants to build a wall around our country, but wish to live behind one. majority of them are armed down here, good signal to kiddies?

Basically, you don't want to do anything but remove the assault rifle, right? okay, what about the Tec-9, or semi auto shot guns? Tec-9 & Savage 311-D 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun,10-shot Hi-Point model 995 carbine rifle was used at Columbine. didn't have a need to get around the AK/AR etc.? Tec-9 is a pistol....

If you look at the stats, handguns were used more than any other weapon in a lot of mass shootings? sounds like the "pitbull' syndrome..

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Security is always the first defense, period!

[Shutter]

If you read the link I provided you will see banning assault rifles will not stop this problem...the first line of defense is security. what kind of signal does airports give? watching granny get the once over by TSA? Should we drop this type of message at airports and let the Cooper's back on board?

Too many people focused on the gun vs the problem..and this allows for the killing to continue. unless the gun can be removed you just throw the hands in the air as if nothing can be done? you just sit and wait for the next one to start complaining about.

as parrot mentioned once again, the blame needs to stop on how to approach the problem, regardless to political affiliation. it's only going to escalate as time goes on since nobody wants to do anything but ban, ban, ban...

[Bruce A. Smith]

Well, Shut, you touch on a number of issues. But I'm surprised that my comments make your blood boil. I suppose that is one of the dimensions of this conversation that needs to be considered and respected.

Yes, I know what a TEC-9 is. My old girl friend has one. She thinks it will keep her safe from an intruder or in case civil war breaks out -for any number of reasons (collapse of food production due to climate change is my personal favorite) - but I doubt it will. I consider it a lousy weapon. Maybe okay in a small room filled with a dozen thugs on a drug buy, but not for anything I anticipate encountering - like my neighbors who want to make a political point about my weirdness and general unacceptability to the community.

Also, the first job I had in WA when I moved here was teaching gun safety and survival skills, so I'm a tad familiar with the number and types of weapons out there. Yup, it's a lot, and you may be correct. We may have millions of AR-15s around until the next millennium.

There are really two questions here:

1. What can we reasonably do right now to keep our kids safer.
2. What can we do to keep combat weaponry out of the hands of crazy people.

One further note: currently I own two rifles. One is a British 303, which has withstood the test of time. Besides, every time I use it reminds me of the British 1st Airborne and their epic battle at Arnheim in WW II. It was the gun of choice for the grunts. Never jams, barrel never warps.

My second gun is a .22. I like it for pesky one-offs, like a thief. I'd rather shoot him in the ass so that he can exit my house and bleed at HIS house. Got the idea from an old granny from Canada who had to do that in 1934 when her neighbors were sneaking over to steal her chickens and eggs. She made a sniper nest on her roof and picked them off until word got around town and she didn't have any more problems. Good crowd control, I say...

[Bruce A. Smith]

Security is always the first defense, period!

Okay. So what keeps you secure?

Continuing, what will keep kids secure?

What can Parkland do? 3,200 students file through one entrance? Or put a fence around all the buildings and create 3-4 separate entrances and post metal detectors and bag-inspect stations at each one? Could work. I'm not saying "don't do it," just asking questions.

Ross Douthat, the conservative columnist at the NY Times today wrote an interesting article. What I gathered from it is that the gun debate is a manifestation of a larger issue - how do you see the world. Some people see the carnage that the prez talked about during his inauguration. Others don't see people as threats. Both have different needs and seek security in a different fashion. I know people who simply don't feel safe unless they're packing. Unfortunately, folks like that make me feel insecure.

Tough dilemma, eh?

As a result, I doubt that we will see any federal legislation on the gun issue any time soon. I suppose the public's response will be fractured, with certain states and cities making decisions about what is best for them, along with individual school districts deciding on security improvements. I think we'll see a lot more restricted access to schools, more metal detectors, more armed guards. Probably a lot more Kevlar vests posted by the front door/teacher's desk in case a staffer needs to make an intervention, like the principal at Sandy Hook Elem or the geography teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS.

[Shutter]

But I'm surprised that my comments make your blood boil.

No, just telling it like it is....

1. What can we reasonably do right now to keep our kids safer.
2. What can we do to keep combat weaponry out of the hands of crazy people.

#1 is pretty simple...add security to schools..real security, not a pistol toting fool wannabe cop..LOCK doors, educate the young. teach REAL family values to children.

#2 is difficult as many "unbalanced" people can hide there sickness. sadly, someone set out to kill people will do just that no matter what you put in place. it will be very hard to stop. malls, and big box stores will soon be the target once the schools are secure..it will be very hard to control..I don't have all the answers, nor to I try to act as if I do, but common sense plays a factor here..watching this younger generation scream down people for simply speaking out concerns me. I'm surprised we don't have more shootings the way they are acting out...lots of spoiled brats running around half cocked..

[Bruce A. Smith]

#1 is pretty simple...add security to schools..real security, not a pistol toting fool wannabe cop..

Just a point of information. The cops stationed at my local schools are regular Sheriff's deputies who rotate in an out of their assignments. That said, some have longer periods of time at one school to build relationships - it's an extension of community-based policing.

[Bruce A. Smith]

#2 is difficult as many "unbalanced" people can hide there sickness. sadly, someone set out to kill people will do just that no matter what you put in place.

Again, another point of reference: Nicholas Cruz, the Parkland shooter, was not hiding his violence and unstable behaviors. He was expelled for his behavior and was put on the FBI's radar.

Some kids are like that. They are disturbed and living in plain view of everyone. We should start with those kids and see what more we can do to keep them from becoming violent.

[Shutter]

A school this big? well, you need to secure it if you build them that big..it doesn't have to be one entrance...you can have several with metal detectors..once class starts, you lock the doors from the outside, except, the main entrance. one way in after school starts..it is what it is...


The lottery always lies telling us millions go to schools...start our own fundme and gain the money needed..

[Shutter]

as I mentioned before...security is the first line of defense. I bought my alarm & camera's only after I was robbed...could of been prevented if I took that first step...

[Bruce A. Smith]

You sound more secure, thankfully.

[Shutter]

You sound more secure, thankfully.

I was lucky. my buddy came home early that day and we believe they left..I had a lot of things that they could of easily taken. they also spared my dog which I was grateful they didn't do anything to her...this was over 11 years ago...this is what can happen when to don't do anything, or believe it could never happen to you. then you have the false sense of security. like one cop in a large school with no other security measures...these are violent times we live in. trying to cover it up is hardly the answer.