ANALYSIS – In the wake of the latest school massacre by a crazed killer in Texas last week, where 19 children and two teachers were brutally murdered by the gun-wielding lunatic, commonsense proposals to increase security and otherwise harden schools to protect our children are gaining steam.
As expected though, Democrats in general, and President Biden in particular aren’t on board.
With Democrats again leveraging this tragedy to push a radical gun control agenda, Republicans are focusing on the root problems of crime and mental illness, and on making schools safer by making them less vulnerable targets.
When asked about the issue, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that Democrats and Republicans are “discussing how we might be able to come together and target the problem, which is mental illness and school safety.”
This should of course include hardening schools by providing at least one armed and well-trained security officer or school police at every school in America and adding other security measures such as limited access to the school, fences, self-locking doors with emergency exit abilities like fire doors, cameras and panic alarms.
All of these solutions are reasonable and relatively cost-effective, especially considering often-bloated public school budgets.
Allowing some vetted, trained and licensed teachers to carry firearms at school, much like we now have pilots on airliners carrying, is another solution. Arming pilots was also highly contentious but has seen no adverse effects once widely implemented.
Meanwhile speaking for President Biden, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday, according to National Review:
I know there’s been conversation about hardening schools, that is not something he believes in. He believes that we should be able to give teachers the resources to be able to do their job.
The obvious response to that is – Isn’t hardening schools in the manner described above giving the teachers the resources to do their job, by giving them the safety needed to do it?
Let’s focus on criminals and mentally ill people, and how to stop them, not on violating the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. That’s a far more effective and lawful solution. ALD
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
In my El-Ed years our schools were surrounded by 8′ high chain link fences. The only access was through the main building entrance which was always flanked by the main office. Self locking “crash bar ” doors should be standard protocol.
In my El-Ed years our schools were surrounded by 8′ high chain link fences. The only access was through the main building entrance which was always flanked by the main office. Self locking “crash bar ” doors should be standard protocol.
Remember, these are the same Democrats that want to kill babies.
Absolutely. Anyone that morally corrupt…I have no words.
Dems and Biden aren’t on board because it goes against their ‘take all the guns away’ bs. I have news for them, it ain’t gonna happen, Americans will not be dis armed! Period.
Just remember how the political elites protect themselves and compare that to how they want to protect your children. Protection starts close..always.
Why can’t schools employ ex-military vets to guard each school!
That’s far better than getting rid of the 2nd. Amendment!
If we get rid of the second amendment, then law abiding people will be at the mercy of all the criminals now being let out of jail by the Democrats!
The criminals will always have guns!
Why should the law abiding be thrown to the wolves and NOT be able to protect their own homes against all this evil??
NRA should launch a School Guard Organization. Jackets with patches too!
Whose brilliant idea was it to have banks, schools and other public places, “gun free zones?” What an invitation that is to every malcontent to enter with a gun and shoot at will, fearing no defensive response.