Access and Security.
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) were ratified by three-fourths of the States. The second amendment is unfortunately top of mind these days with another school shooting, this time at a high school near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The Second Amendment reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Little did Thomas Jefferson know that when he authenticated and ratified the Bill of Rights, the second amendment would indirectly lead to many school tragedies including Sandy Hook, Columbine, Parkland, and many other shooting incidents at schools around the U.S.A. Nor did he know how people of lesser minds would use the weapons allowed by the Second Amendment.
I will not comment on why a 19-year old possessed a AR-15 rifle, groups of gun activists or gun control, nor our divided political system. What I will comment on is school security. Don’t get me wrong, I put no blame on the high school administrators where last week’s massacre took place. My bewilderment relates to the ability of someone, anyone, able to enter a school with little security in place. As taxpayers, we support the use of schools using crossing guards to protect our students on a daily basis, but what about school security? With the mental instability of so many, why are many schools left unprotected with the ability to enter a school with little deterrent? I realize that based on the tax base every school system is different, but at a minimum, should we not employ off-duty police officers to protect our schools, no different than the school crossing guards who basically put their lives on the line every time they direct traffic?
I know these questions may be trivial, but not to the families and friends who lost loved ones last week. No matter the politics, gun control will be an issue for many years to come. So while our congressional leaders try to figure out what to do, can we not tackle the issue of security within our schools?
My heartfelt condolences to family and friends who lost their loved ones last week. It should not be just another Funday Sunday.
I am sorry Gary but I am going to get political here. When the second amendment was written, there was no AR 15 rifles and shit of that nature. People who can afford rifles had single barrel ones.
Killing innocents in schools and elsewhere is NOT going to stop as long our screwed up politicians are on the NRA payroll. I am all for having hunting rifles but assault ones should be banned. I don’t give a shit what political side people are on, This insanity must stop.
No apologies. I am the one who will stay away from the politics. Only issue is how do you disseminate between assault and hunting guns? I am thinking that this sick kid could have done the same or more damage with a shotgun – so for me it is about access in our schools.
I’m not a “gun person” as you know. I tend to agree with Samir in that I don’t understand why any civilian has to own a machine gun (in essence)? Yes, a shotgun would still do damage, so why would any civilian need an automatic weapon (or smoke bombs or body armor)? Certainly not for hunting, unless you’re a terrible shot and have to spray the forest with bullets hoping to hit a deer (or the deer start firing back)! At the same time, I’m surprised that our public schools seem so easily accessible. Large schools have so many points of entry and sprawling campuses, I’m not sure more officers is a practical solution. In addition, who’s going to pay for them? Teachers and school systems are often under funded – at least in my area.
Agree – my point is that a ‘hunting’ rifle can be just as deadly in certain circumstances. If you walk into many office buildings you are met with security….we, as taxpayers, fund school system crossing guards so can the budget not be shifted to include a former policeman or military veteran? Yes, school systems are strapped for funding but this seems to be one budget item that must be included in the annual budget.
Spot on! With the number of policemen and women both active and retired along with numerous retired FBI, military people, etc, we should be able to protect these students!