What can be done to make schools safer from deranged shooters?

Mello2u · December 14, 2012, 07:15 PM

Today another tragedy where one deranged shooter killed 26 innocent people in Connecticut.

Some will call for bans of firearms and restrictions of civil rights to make people feel safer.

I don't want people to "feel safer" I want to do something that actually makes people safer.

I submit that banning some firearms and restricting magazine capacities would not have prevented today's shooting or reduced the number of innocent deaths.

If the goal is to make schools safer for the students, then:

1) Would a law requiring that a certain percentage (perhaps 50% or 100%) of teachers be trained (to local law enforcement level training) and armed while they are teaching to protect the children and themselves? Now schools are "predator feeding zones" as they are designated "gun free zones".

I am not concerned with liberal opposition to my politically incorrect path; or union opposition to changing the job description of a teacher. If the problem is to be addressed then we have to look at solutions to reach the goal.

2) How about designing school so that someone who seeks to gain access to the school while armed is detected and prevented from gaining access? Limited access should be easy to design and all the technology exists. Cameras, metal detectors, remote control doors, intercoms . . . .
Harden the classrooms with security doors which can withstand rifle fire and resist being opened with tools. Make the windows high enough to prevent outside viewing, and other things which I have not thought about; to make it more difficult for a predator to get access to the people in schools.

Am I thinking about impossible responsibilities here?

Hal · December 14, 2012, 07:22 PM

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508968

Mods have requested the topic to not be discussed until all the facts are known.

bfskinnerpunk · December 14, 2012, 07:34 PM

We aren't discussing this particular shooting, but the topic of school shootings in general.

In my opinion, we don't don't do much of anything. We can't innoculate ourselves from every kind of nut job.

By the same token, I also don't believe we begin coating our trees with tectured, non-splintering plastic and safety steps so that children don't die from falling from trees.

Schools are slammed with burdens.... we have all kinds of aggressive, diva, thug-like kids that you never hear about (because they are protected by HiPPA) and they go to school with your kids. Teachers and admin are dancing on eggshells to keep those bad boys happy, too... it is horrible.

It is politically incorrect to segregate the bad kids from the good, so we are stuck.

Schools are broke. Not sure if every single school can be outfitted with special security features.

Al Norris · December 14, 2012, 08:15 PM

How to protect our schools from rampaging or deranged individuals, is not about guns. Can't move this to GD, as all topics must be about guns.

How to protect our schools, is not in anyway related to civil rights. How to protect our schools, could possibly be a legal discussion, but it would be tenuous at best.

I can't in good conscience allow this to remain open. It is off topic for TFL.

December 14, 2012, 07:15 PM	#1
Mello2u Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,424	What can be done to make schools safer from deranged shooters? Today another tragedy where one deranged shooter killed 26 innocent people in Connecticut. Some will call for bans of firearms and restrictions of civil rights to make people feel safer. I don't want people to "feel safer" I want to do something that actually makes people safer. I submit that banning some firearms and restricting magazine capacities would not have prevented today's shooting or reduced the number of innocent deaths. If the goal is to make schools safer for the students, then: 1) Would a law requiring that a certain percentage (perhaps 50% or 100%) of teachers be trained (to local law enforcement level training) and armed while they are teaching to protect the children and themselves? Now schools are "predator feeding zones" as they are designated "gun free zones". I am not concerned with liberal opposition to my politically incorrect path; or union opposition to changing the job description of a teacher. If the problem is to be addressed then we have to look at solutions to reach the goal. 2) How about designing school so that someone who seeks to gain access to the school while armed is detected and prevented from gaining access? Limited access should be easy to design and all the technology exists. Cameras, metal detectors, remote control doors, intercoms . . . . Harden the classrooms with security doors which can withstand rifle fire and resist being opened with tools. Make the windows high enough to prevent outside viewing, and other things which I have not thought about; to make it more difficult for a predator to get access to the people in schools. Am I thinking about impossible responsibilities here? __________________ NRA Life Member - Orange Gunsite Member - NRA Certified Pistol Instructor "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." Frederic Bastiat

December 14, 2012, 07:22 PM	#2
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508968 Mods have requested the topic to not be discussed until all the facts are known.

December 14, 2012, 07:34 PM	#3
bfskinnerpunk Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2009 Posts: 201	We aren't discussing this particular shooting, but the topic of school shootings in general. In my opinion, we don't don't do much of anything. We can't innoculate ourselves from every kind of nut job. By the same token, I also don't believe we begin coating our trees with tectured, non-splintering plastic and safety steps so that children don't die from falling from trees. Schools are slammed with burdens.... we have all kinds of aggressive, diva, thug-like kids that you never hear about (because they are protected by HiPPA) and they go to school with your kids. Teachers and admin are dancing on eggshells to keep those bad boys happy, too... it is horrible. It is politically incorrect to segregate the bad kids from the good, so we are stuck. Schools are broke. Not sure if every single school can be outfitted with special security features.

December 14, 2012, 08:15 PM	#4
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	How to protect our schools from rampaging or deranged individuals, is not about guns. Can't move this to GD, as all topics must be about guns. How to protect our schools, is not in anyway related to civil rights. How to protect our schools, could possibly be a legal discussion, but it would be tenuous at best. I can't in good conscience allow this to remain open. It is off topic for TFL.