Armed With The Goal Of Less Danger

In the wake of the tragic Parkland, Florida high school shooting, at least one West Texas school district has taken a different approach to student safety on school grounds. There, select and trained teachers and staff members carry concealed weapons, ready to react to any challenge to the safety of their students, teachers, or administrators. Those staff members permitted to carry on school grounds are required to practice shooting at a range at least once each month to keep their skills fresh. So there can be no mystery for school visitors about the seriousness of the protective stance within this district, there are signs posted around their buildings indicating clearly that staff on-duty are armed and “may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.”
In addition to tightening, and closely monitoring, access-security for school buildings, districts around the nation should seriously consider either concealed carry for highly-selective staff members ,  and/or adding armed security provided by current, on-duty law enforcement officers, or retired police/former military members.  Whatever is necessary to put an end to school attacks by disgruntled or mentally unstable teens or adults.

No parent should ever have to wonder whether or not their child will return home, as normal, at the end of the school day.  Such has always, in the past, been a given. That safety net must be provided once again. With all of the everyday worries and stresses today’s parents face, child safety at school should never be one of them. (2-23-2018)