You Cannot Be Serious

Was the call to place armed guards or police officers at all American schools really the best that the National Rifle Association could come up with in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting?  Honestly, I just wanted Wayne LaPierre to just stop talking during his press conference last week--since the "solution" was becoming more and more embarrassing the longer he spoke.

To put this into local terms, the Oshkosh School District has 19 buildings housing children.  Under the NRA plan, the district would have to hire at least 19 armed guards--with perhaps another three to four guards to fill in for vacations or sick days.  But, then you have to remember that some of the buildings also double as elementary and middle schools with separate entrances for the younger and older kids--entrances that would also have to be staffed all the time--meaning another five guards. 

And as any security expert would tell you, one security guard is not going to be able to monitor a building the size of an average school--with as many potential entrances (even though they are locked) by himself.  so you would either have to hire multiple guards per school--or install very expensive camera monitoring systems in every building.

And what happens if the security guard is seriously injured or killed--but fails to stop the shooter?  As I've pointed out in previous "My Two Cents", the assailants are showing up heavily armed and the idea of a guard or officer getting off one shot to put an end to an attack is a bit unreasonable.  So do our school guards need to be outfitted like army patrol soldiers in Afghanistan with the automatic rifles, body armor and helmets?  Not exactly the friendly image you want to project to those you are trying to protect.

And where is the money for this expenditure coming?  I don't remember LaPierre telling school districts or police departments to send the NRA the bill.  I'm sure than if you ask any principal, parent or even taxpayer where they would prefer to have the millions required to implement this "plan" they would all agree that the money would be much better spent on educational programs, general maintenance and technology--as opposed to measures you hope will prevent a once in a millenium event at one of your schools.