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By J. Patrick Coolican (contact) 
Friday, Dec. 21, 2012 | 6:40 p.m.
When I heard about the massacre in Newtown, my first thought was about those families because that pain will never go away. My second thought was about my father. He’s been on the school board for the better part of a quarter century in my hometown of East Hampton, Conn., which is 50 miles northeast of Newtown, and he did a stint on the state school board, as well. My father and I don’t agree on much. Earlier this year, he sent me a subscription to National Review, the conservative journal. He has a mischievous sense of humor, and I ...
Coolican -- looks like I'm the first to say excellent report from you, love the way you reminded us of some real numbers, and sanity. Your dad is right on with all this!
"Hell is other people." -- Jean-Paul Sartre from his 1944 play "No Exit"
Enormous profits lay waiting for those who can provide safety products for the most prevalent fears. Companies stand ready to make incredible short term profits off fear caused by violence and mayhem.
"Sales of bulletproof backpacks, kids' body armor by Utah company soar 500 percent following Connecticut shootings".
Bullet proof backpacks, something I personally would never wear in a war zone can be purchased for as little as $300 each (my Boy Scout backpack, not bullet proof, cost about $8). Bullet proof notebooks, paper pads and other paraphernalia are displayed adjacent to the back packs.
The NRA knows a buck when they see one and paranoia means BIG BUCKS for the astute, the privileged and those in special places, like the NRA. To hell with education - the real money is making education SAFE and Wayne LaPierre with the NRA know that best.
It only takes one incident to make it worth it. We protect gold better than our kids. Putting two Clark county school police officers at each and every school is hardly telling our kids they should be afraid. It's. small thing to do to increase the odds of safety at a place where we put together a large group of our kids for 7 hrs a day.
We have security all over the place....in every part of town. But we are afraid of increasing school police at kids schools...which clearly could be targets of terrorists as well. Two school police at ech school is no guarantee , true. But it sure could buy time and save lives...maybe not all but even one life saved is worth it. I see no trade off"
The fearful reactions after a violent tragedy rise to the level of imprisoning the populous in one way or another. Only the mentally ill or victims of our economic system are left free to react out of their agony.
Armed guards in schools is another brick in the wall. And the bricks are building fortresses in schools, workplaces, homes and other public locations.
Imprisoned freedom is no freedom.
The reference to local schools resembling prisons was exactly the impression I had when I moved to Las Vegas. How uninspiring a lockdown environment is, and add guards to do what? They are going to be sacrificial targets, unless you place them in bulletproof plexiglass boxes on wheels.
Consider how many of the assailants commit suicide. If a guard is in a location at a distance from the assailant, the assailant can still take out whoever they come in contact with before they are put out of their misery.
Imagine the help that could be given to people needing mental health services for the billions that are proposed by the NRA.
Financing preventative measures for the mentally ill would be a much better investment than those to protect from the mentally ill that have gone over the edge due to lack of early help as a preventative.
The choice is clear: Raise taxes -- and who thinks the NRA membership favors that?
--------
Exactly. What hippocrisy. These guys spit on any new taxes and suddenly they are going to embrace another 5 billion plus more bureaucracy? Laughable statement from the puppet LaPierre today. The NRA made the best decision in the world when they decided to remain quiet after the killings, only to screw it up with this cringe worthy press conference.
Having an arm guard at Columbine High School did not help the students on that tragic day.
The NRA does not have good leadership. Instead, the head of the NRA could be legally insane based on the comments made today.
Gee another Coolican hates an idea but doesn't have an alternative, what a shock.
That is a good report. The question I have is,
what's going to be easyer? Putting armed officers
in every school? OR taking all the firearms away
from 88% of the US citizens,without a fight??
That is the Question? I hope someone has a plan
B!
Mr. Coolican - You sound indignant towards the NRA's idea of a cop in every school yet CCSD already does that for the high schools. You bring up Columbine, but fail to mention that Neil Gardner was eating lunch in his car in the parking lot when the shooting started. I would never have imagined the massacre in Newtown, and I suppose if someone is willing to trade their life to commit such an evil/bad act it is difficult to stop them, but let us not so quickly dismiss possible solutions no matter where they might come from.
Cool says it wrong to SPEND MONEY ON OUR CHILDREN.
What the heck is that about
We waste money on lots of stuff. The Federal Goverment has a $3.7 trillion budget
And Cool say we can afford it
Every bank has security why not our schools
The NRA, by refusing to be a major part of the solution, remains a major part of the problem.
The idea of armed security in every school is a poor one. But if it does come to pass, it should be paid for with an excise tax on assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition clips and magazines, and an annual license fee for possessing an assault weapon.
I love the way those most secure scoff at the security of others. That moron, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, rails against guns yet has a whole bunch of gun-toting security gorillas watching his back. Try getting into any courthouse in America without going through metal detectors and past armed guards. I can't be positive as I have never visited the offices of the LV Rag, but I have a feeling you can't just walk into any part of their facility without having gone through some sort of security. I know that's the case with the R/J. So, with guys like Coolican, it's do as I say, not as I do. With friends like him who needs enemies?
So it's OK to have people with guns 'protecting' judges, lawyers, CEOs, casinos, the President and Congressman but not our children?
We are being lectured about gun availability by an administration that gave over 2000 guns to the Mexican drug cartels.
The NRA...
Upping the ante on stupidity, one idea at a time.
Coolican hits the nail, again.
Your father sounds like a voice of sanity from a bygone era.
I once moved from 'the middle of nowhere' to a large metro where folks were incredulous at my leaving doors unlocked and keys in car...it's my nature to be trusting, expecting 99% of folks to do the right thing and liking my odds of not running into the 1% that can't or won't.
Arming schools to the teeth to fend off the rare wackjob
with a weapons cache is giving in to that 1%...
Lock, Stock & Barrel.
"You bring up Columbine, but fail to mention that Neil Gardner was eating lunch in his car in the parking lot when the shooting started."
flyinglow -- not sure what you're trying to say, but there's a lot more on your point @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21...
"The NRA, by refusing to be a major part of the solution, remains a major part of the problem."
pisces -- the NRA is not the custodian of our liberties, our republic and its many levels of government is. The NRA is only the face of your fellow citizens peacefully assembling, consulting for their common good and petitioning their elected representatives accordingly. You know, like the First Amendment guarantees.
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." -- H.L. Mencken
KIllerB
By all accounts the NRA has about 4 million members or a bit over 1% of the populatio. But my issue is not with most of the members, it's with the organization itself. Full disclosure - at one time I was an NRA member until their paranoia-laced propoganda became too much to take. They have become the spokesman for the most extreme elements of their membership and there is no doubt that they are energetic and influential. But I seriously doubt they represent most gun owners' concerns whether NRA members or not.
Place high taxes on guns and ammo to pay for armed security guards in all American public schools.
How else do you think financing such a $5 Billion plus a year operation will be carried out? With tax cuts??
$5 Billion is a small price to pay for added security for the kids. I'd certainly be willing to pay more taxes for this. I also think that raising taxes on weapons and ammunition to help fund it is a good idea.
Coolican and his dad think that its a bad idea yet Holder and his guys sell 2000 guns to the cartels and that for some reason is alright.
Again Coolican is all over the place, sticking to his misguided path. This government could find the cash to do this, but heck if they can't I'd like to take a look at the books. You can rest assured I'd find a place to get the funding.
"I'd certainly be willing to pay more taxes for this.
I also think that raising taxes on weapons and ammunition to help fund it is a good idea.
yet Holder and his guys sell 2000 guns to the cartels and that for some reason is alright."
-----------------------------
Reality and "right wing reality" makes such an amusing political mix.
Turning our public schools into mini-penitentiaries is not the answer but that's the sick logic spewed from paranoid sack of flesh, Wayne LaPierre, the NRAs Muammar Gaddafi.
LaPierre's press conference stunned the world. Gun makers would have been better off sending Clint Eastwood and his empty chair on stage rather than a raving, incoherent madman.
Was not having enough males in the school system part of the problem at Sandy Hook? I never thought about that until I heard at coffee this morning some comments National Review Online's Charlotte Allen made on this subject. Some of the things she said: "There was not a single adult male on the school premises when the shooting occurred. In this school all the personnel, the teachers, the principal, the assistant principal, the school psychologist, the "reading specialist" were all female. There didn't even seem to be a male janitor to heave his bucket at Adam Lanza's knees. A feminized setting is a setting in which helpless passivity is the norm. Male aggression can be a good thing, as in protecting the weak, but it has been forced out of the culture of elementary schools and the education schools that train their personnel. Think of what Sandy Hook might have been like if a couple of male teachers who had played high-school football, or even some of the husiker 12-year-old boys, had converged on Lanza." Wow! I really think we TeaPublicans better get the U.S. Congress to pass a law that all school system must have a minimum of 60% males on staff to protect our children!
Another statistical misrepresentation by the media. Why use 2008-2009 statistics on one and include 2010 from another? Did the homicides at school also include students going to and from school? When they were traveling to an event? Did the statistics include school staff, as some web sites are indicating?
J. Patrick, respectfully, on this one you and your Dad are wrong considering that there are tens of thousands of assault weapons out there, some of which unfortunately are accesible to lunatics who couldn't acquire them from a licensed and responsible firearms dealer.
Sidwell Friends school is the safest school for children in the U S, because it's guarded by Secret Service agents with superior firepower protecting Barack and Michelle Obama's daughters.
Highly trained men with guns protecting kids in a school. And that's wrong?
"...my issue is not with most of the members, it's with the organization itself."
PISCES -- it's not just the NRA. One of mankind's many shortcomings seems to be taking a good idea, instutitonalizing it then proceeding to FUBAR it. Our republic is probably the best example of that, organized religion another. Good post!
"There was not a single adult male on the school premises when the shooting occurred. . .A feminized setting is a setting in which helpless passivity is the norm. Male aggression can be a good thing, as in protecting the weak, but it has been forced out of the culture of elementary schools and the education schools that train their personnel."
TeaPublicanPatriot -- good quote! Kind of gives one the feeling our public institutions have lost their grip on reality, no?
"I love and treasure individuals as I meet them, I loathe and despise the groups they identify with and belong to." -- the late, great George Carlin "Ready or Not, Here Comes Another Book"
Killer B wrote,
""You bring up Columbine, but fail to mention that Neil Gardner was eating lunch in his car in the parking lot when the shooting started."
Exactly! So what do you do? Put an arm guard in every class room and tell them not to eat lunch or go to the restroom, or just don't move from 7 am to 3 pm?
Again, the head of the NRA must be legally insane based on the comments he made today on 12/21/21.
The idea of armed guards in schools seems crazy but so does a guy walking into a elementary school and shooting 6 year olds.
It's pathetic and sad that we've come to this (and i'm not saying I agree but..) if they outlawed assault rifles tomorrow and made gun laws like that of Japan it would still be decades if not a century before Americans were significantly less-armed right? In the meantime what?
It's absolutely pathetic that even the idea of needing a guard at every school is suggested but right now our kids are more likely to die by school shooting than school fire but we practice fire drills all year long, have sprinkler systems and fire retardant buildings.
Gun control or much better oversight can come but it will be a while before it really makes a difference. What do we do in the meantime? Hope it doesn't happen again?
Mental health and gun laws might be the answers but they're long long long term solutions. What can we do in the meantime?
America has enough problems without unleashing an army of shoot-anyone-wearing-a-hoodie George Zimmermans on our public schools.
If conservatives were any dumber they'd be teabaggers.
"School is the safest place for a kid."
"1,579 homicides in the United States among school-age youth ages 5--18,"
"In 2009, 1,314 children 14 years and younger died in crashes,"
"About 2,700 teenaged drivers were killed in 2010."
In 2008, approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S., or approxiamately six million babies, 3288 per day on average in the past five years.
Protecting students is something we all value so it should be a priority. How do we best accomplish this goal? We can't solve it with passivity, resignation and cynicism to ideas that could achieve this goal. One key word here is "protection". The other key word is "prevention" or solving the root causes that lead to school shootings. We need a comprehensive approach that both protects students and leads to reducing or eliminating the root causes to school shootings.
The NRA is the official lobbying arm for gun makers and that's why Wayne LaPierre's press conference was so stunning, though not unexpected. Most manufacturers that produce goods try to project an image of professionalism and responsibility, even if it's just phony BS designed for public consumption.
The NRA, which is neither professional or responsible, turns that marketing strategy upside down by basically poking America in the eye with its the middle finger. And that has been their MO from the start -- never give an inch, even after something as horrible as the Newtown massacre.
Along with rightwing hate radio and Fake News, the NRA completes the poisonous trilogy whose goal is to snuff out our democracy and implement one-party GOP rule.
You don't have to have a moat and drawbridge to harden the schools a little. Controlled access, reinforced glass in all the doors with at least have a maganetic key (built into the teachers ID cards) to open from the hallways. Most of these measures would not even be visible from the exsisting layout. Have doors that divide the school into sections to limit "roving" from one end to the other.
Every school shooter seemed to be able to move freely inside the school. Limit that 80% and it's a big start and affordable.
Chunky says:
Mr. Coolican said" "...But all this security tells children that we live in a dangerous society, one that requires constant vigilance against random crime, a menace that can only be defeated with an endless arms race of more powerful weapons and body armor and "tactical" gear."
It IS a dangerous society Mr. Coolican, the Newtown and Aurora shootings are perfect albeit horrible examples.
Survival today requires constant awareness of one's surroundings and the subtle actions of strangers and apparently family as well. Look at how many people walk parking lots and streets head and thoughts buried in their smartphones; exactly what criminals are looking for. Awareness isn't paranoia, just paying attention.
We use armed guards to protect banks, government buildings, corporate offices, casinos, airports, politicians and celebrities. What could be more important than protecting a building full of children with whatever means possible? Ever see a "No Firearms" sign at a bank? Most banks have tellers behind bullet proof glass.
We need prevention and protection in every aspect of our society, schools included until such time that we live in that perfect world we all dream of. Ban the sale or transfer of every single gun, magazine and form of ammunition in existence and the crazies and criminals will still obtain them or their functional equivalent.
It would be great to live in a world with no evil or danger, a world without psychos who are intent on doing harm to others and/or themselves. But that is not the reality of the world we live in today. Sad but true.
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
It's a pain in the rear to carry a concealed weapon every day. Just when Chunky thinks he doesn't really need one to go for a haircut or to the gym, he hears of a shooting in a salon or gym or mall. Name a place this doesn't happen that is not guarded.
That's what Chunky thinks!
Happy Holidays!
The NRA is Nothing more than a Lobbyist group selling their snake oil to the people that give them money.
And The Government is not going to or never will try to take your guns away from you. That's Propaganda at it's best, This is to get you to buy the elixir.
Military bases have the some of the most restrictive firearm rules anywhere, didn't stop the terrorist thug at Fort Hood from killing 13, an armed female did keep him from killing 14 though...
Just renew my membership to the NRA
'Gee another Coolican hates an idea but doesn't have an alternative, what a shock.'
^^ Have to agree with this comment.
I think it would be a knee jerk reaction to put armed guards at schools. But, I have no better idea to offer, except to express my opinion that mental health is virtually ignored in this country. With better healthcare and access to it perhaps people like Adam Lanza and his family could have had the help needed for him to prevent this situation. Instead his care was left on the shoulders of his mother alone. We now see how that worked out.
I respectfully disagree. My high school, where I graduated in '93, always had two armed police officers present. Our school routinely had over 1,500 students on campus and our graduating class had in excess of 500 students. Everyone knew the officers by name and it was a great lesson in that the police force was there to protect us. In my hometown, it was the police mandate that any population of people congregated over a certain number had to have a police officer present.
The cop or guard could have called the state police and could have bought significant time and mitigate the assult on the school. Cops and armed guards have schooling in crisis management and even veterans know how to shoot around body armour.
The NRA recommended the same thing, but misjudged completely the sentiment of most of its members of congress in their outrage. 30 round clips should be outlawed, it's that simple, and there should be an amnesty exchange.. An ar-15 should never have more capacity than an armed cops' weapon. Whats wrong with that common sense?
I think Wayne LaPierre did his membership a disservice in two ways. I would have never pointed fingers at others as that takes away from the credibility of the organization and the message. Second, I would not have advocated a police officer in each school without first proposing a partnership in study to determine the best and most cost effective solutions that could be reasonably accomplished. There are places, like Israel and others, that have greater threats on a daily basis than our own and yet have fewer hurt in this way. Yes, they are a tiny country compared to us with a much smaller and vastly different population but that doesn't mean there might not be something of value to be learned from them. Something that could be adopted wholesale or in a modified form to prevent future school attacks.
The real problem and I believe the answer of course is in human behavior. I attended a large north east high school where it was not unusual for the boys to have a shotgun for deer hunting in their vehicle. The high school had a rifle team that competed against other schools and I cannot ever remember a gun crime of any kind at or near the school despite the fact that team members on occasion would have to carry the firearms used in competition in and out of the school and to another. The difference between then and now is human behavior, the root causes of that behavioral change are myriad and complex. Most homes were two parent homes then and a stay at home parent was common. Neighborhood involvement, frequent communication and friendship among neighbors was commonplace. There are many more differences, gangs were few and far, kids spent more time interacting with others their age and little in front of TVs with only 3 stations and computers and video games didn't exist to keep them inside and alone.
Each person is an individual and I know of no one causal factor or solution that will solve all our problems. I do know that concentrating on an inanimate object to change human behavior is a false god. Were it in my heart to do harm to another I am capable of accomplishing that in dozens of ways without ever needing a firearm. Tens of millions of us are.
By TeaPublicanPatriot
Dec. 22, 2012
7:11 a.m.
That's funny. I laughed quite a while.
Then I stopped laughing because I believe you are serious.
@casinokid,
"And The Government is not going to or never will try to take your guns away from you". Read this article and you may change your mind. I bet the Ausies said the same thing.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/sen.-feins...
I really like how Cuomo says he will try a forced buyback. People in a free country just don't like to be forced to do anything. I would really hate to see the result if the idiots who represent us were stupid enough to pass something like this.
"30 round clips should be outlawed, it's that simple, and there should be an amnesty exchange.. An ar-15 should never have more capacity than an armed cops' weapon. Whats wrong with that common sense"
Why are cops more important than citizens? Explain that to me. Is it acceptable to you that someone can go into a school and kill 10 children? The same rifle was legal under the assault weapon ban, only with 10 rounds! Do you think people can't reload? Your comment is asinine.
Retired cops and military personnel would be a great pool of trained talent to monitor exterior school entry doors and to communicate any signs of trouble to an in-school police officer who can't be everywhere at once. A prerequisite would be passing a background check, being in good physical condition and going through training for the role. I think many younger active seniors would welcome the opportunity to add additional purpose to their life and to give back to their community.
In 8th grade a girl was found butchered in the Band Room. They thought it was me. The victim had looked a lot like me--a friend, fairly close friend. Anyhow the student who did it--because she told him he had to stop selling drugs in school or she'd turn him in--was sent to a private mental hospital for 3-4 years and then walked free--Minnesota juvenile law at the time. Anyhow, I completely agree that it is dangerous to put armed guards in schools--Columbine had one. Didn't prevent anything. Here is something that CAN HELP: find out how your kids, the other students, treat the kids who are NOT their friends. Do they respect them or do they ridicule them. Even if they don't blatantly mistreat others, do they think they are better than others just cause they are way more cool? Or, do they like to maintain casual relationships with everybody else, to acknowledge their class mates and allow them to maintain self respect. We all have options in life, we must encourage everyone to recognize this. And what better way to be aware of those who might be in serious need of mental health services?
Wayne LaPierre: just like Muammar Gaddafi but without the warm, sunny personality.
Israel learned that arming the teachers and having volunteer armed citizens guarding their schools works! More anti-gun laws do nothing to protect our childern, nothing!
The leftists have created the society we now have to live in, and that society has many very sick people walking the streets instead of in mental institutions, where we kept them when the streets were safe. Law abiding citizens have no choice but to arm themselves against these criminals, and we have an obligation to our childern to protect them, even if the leftists think their ferry god mother is all they need for protection. Act locally, DEMAND your local school board takes action to give our childern the protection they deserve!
I agree with the article. Too costly to have armed security. Should there be one per school? Or one per entryway? My thought is this. Install locks on the doors. The kind that enable you to open them from the inside to get out, but can't be opened from the outside to get in. Connect that to a speaker system with the main office where an acceptable visitor can be "buzzed" in. Just like gated housing complexes. Same type of locks can be installed on classroom and other facility doors such that once class is in session, they automatically lock preventing someone from coming in, but still allow anyone to exit. A costly capital expenditure, but relatively less expensive than salary and benefits for armed security--unless schools were to use some rent-a-cop service. Every school district in America can conduct at million dollar study to see which is most cost effective, in case they don't have the purchasing or arithmetic skills to do the comparatives in house as always seems to be the case. This is a simple comparison of hardware versus personnel. It's not rocket science.
Of course even locking doors don't preclude the threat to student safety posed by a teacher who has a CWP. But that goes from the sublime to the ridiculous . . . The biggest question is where to draw the line. But surely there is a way to ensure safety in an efficient way.
Meanwhile, heartfelt sympathies to the Newtown parents. There is no pain greater than losing a child.
Have the same security a business would have, what is wrong with that? When we successfully ban a piece of plastic and a spring (ammo clip) maybe we can ban beer too?
It's surprising how many blogs have either/or thinking. We either get rid of all the guns or arm everyone. Both sides need to give. I don't favor rounding up all the guns, but there does need to be better regulation. The 2nd Amendment does say "well regulated." And the amendment need not be absolute. The 1st Amendment is not absolute; you cannot just say or publish any old thing you want. There are libel laws, etc. The issue is what's in the best interests for all.
That being said, we could both provide police protection at schools and strive to provide some sensible regulations (e.g., stopping the gun show loopholes).
And if you favor regulations, then don't get all caught up in the NRA smoke and mirrors. Don't focus on them. Focus on contacting your legislators and demanding action on their part.
I'd be just a bit more believing in the legitimacy of the NRA's concern about school safety if the NRA had agreed, up front, to fully fund its "plan".
Who said anything about "armed fortresses". Spin, baby, spinnnnn...
I'd be just a bit more believing in the legitimacy of the NRA's concern about school safety if the NRA had agreed, up front, to fully fund its "plan".
-------
And there goes the plan. Any idiot can come up with a plan (no matter how dumb). Ask the NRA if they would agree to an extra "bullet tax" or "gun tax" to support this plan and they'd fight tooth and nail against it. LaPierre made a fool of himself. He was better off with the idea of "say nothing and be thought the fool rather than speak and remove all doubt"....he spoke. Doubt removed.
I loved it when Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry was asked if he was for gun control. "I am actually for gun control," Perry deadpanned. "Use both hands." Bahahahaha! Yup, he is RIGHT!
And we all know how Perry performed during the primary...
His time in Texas is also coming to an end.
Say "no" to armed fortresses; say "yes" to a gun on the hip of every legitimate, background-checked citizen who wants one.
As terrifying and horrible as school shootings are, the author's assessment regarding violent crime and school safety based upon my research is correct - according to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, most Americans have told pollsters they believe crime is getting worse yet the national violent-crime rate between 1990 and 2009 was halved* indicating a wide spread disconnect between perceived violence and actually violence -- how does such a disconnect between the general public's perception and reality occur?
The media, of course -- a media which routinely fails to put into perspective their reporting, particularly those involving extreme violence which captures viewers the media's bread-n-butter -- typically twisting facts to fit their underlying agendas -- in the case of the Sun, editorials by its editor (Brian Greenspun** "Urgency for sanity in gun culture") and cronies (Stuart Weiss*** "Answer to violence is leadership) which utilize the backdrops of horrifying bloodshed such as the Newtown incident to incite reader's emotions while advocating their reader's liberties be infringed upon as solutions -- unfortunately with Hitler salutes from their gullible followers.
With regard to the author's "turning schools into armed fortresses an awful idea" -- the term "fortress" is certainly "catchy" but extreme-n-impractical and not what anyone has suggested -- however, the widespread barrage of the media's Newton tragedy has resulted in a renewed public awareness and concern regarding occupant safety at school facilities -- perhaps statistically unfounded, an opportunity has been presented for such institutions to review their safety policies, procedures and practices while taking appropriate actions, if deemed necessary (awful idea?) and with the assistance of a responsible media restore a public perception of safety conducive with facts, not fears and liberty intrusive editorials -- unburdened by federal directives, impractical laws, politicians or the NRA.
Don't let media ink twist a beautiful mind.
Refs:
* http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_p...
** http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/dec...
*** http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/dec...
http://www.abtassociates.com/reports/cjt...
Very tough situation to solve, so don't expect a viable solution from Washington. Heck, they can't even produce a budget.
Anyone else have the feeling that we are on the verge of mass chaos?
Is this why firearms are flying off the shelves after tragic Newtown?
Unbelievable!
I do like the idea of an armed "air marshal" type administrator in every school, and maybe a heavy tax on anything related to firearms to fund more nuthouses!
"...say "yes" to a gun on the hip of every legitimate, background-checked citizen who wants one."
James_P -- last time I checked this is an open carry state. No background checks required unless you're getting a concealed permit.
"It behoves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others; or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own." -- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803
"James_P -- last time I checked this is an open carry state. No background checks required unless you're getting a concealed permit."
Wrong, If you buy a firearm a background check will be performed, unless you buy privately or a long rifle at a gun show (not sure about that)
Gun show loop holes need to be closed and military grade ammo quantity purchased at one go needs to be regulated like perscription medications.
I think it's stupid to store more than a couple hundred rounds at home ... may need to put a fire symbol on your front door!
But then you still have to worry about people that just don't give a hoot about the law!
"I really think we TeaPublicans better get the U.S. Congress to pass a law that all school system must have a minimum of 60% males on staff to protect our children!"
--------------
WooT LoL
"Wrong, If you buy a firearm a background check will be performed, unless you buy privately or a long rifle at a gun show. . ."
BeSafest -- actually we're both right. James_P mentioned nothing about buying, only carrying, but his "background-checked citizen who wants one" is definitely a gray area. No big deal.
Definitely disagree with your "stupid to store more than a couple hundred rounds at home." I have an SKS which takes non-standard Russian ammo, and had the chance to buy a thousand rounds on sale. Nothing wrong with that at all. As for your "you still have to worry about people that just don't give a hoot about the law!" -- now that's just ignorant. See below.
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." -- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Isaac H Tiffany (1819)
Ya...putting 2 CCSD officers at ech school IS the same as a "fortress". Whacko. You should listen to your father more. The older you'll get the smarter he will get.
It never ceases to amaze me the way people equate accidental deaths from lawful activities like driving a car to murder.
While it's true that not many kids get killed in school. There are tens of thousands of weapons that get confiscated from children. Guns, knives, tasers you name it. In addition bullying is another major problem in school that has resulted in children committing suicide.
While giving guns teachers is absolute nonsense having good security is not a bad idea.
You would be amazed how many youngsters that aren't even dry behind the ears walk around armed to the teeth. Many of the gang killings in this country involve kids that have not even begun to shave. If they're walking the streets armed they're going to school armed.
I believe it was last week that a kid was driving to school in Vegas with firearms and explosives. You can not expect teachers to deal with idiots like this. They're not trained for it.
If you make something Idiot proof then someone will make a better Idiot!
The NRA is, among other things, a lobbying organization for the gun manufacturers. LaPierre is paid a million dollars to promote guns and gun sales. It is completely consistent for his solution to involve more guns. He will not, under any circumstance, make a recommendation that will constrict or reduce gun sales, even if it saves lives. The NRA resists any controls being placed on semi-automatic assault-style weapons. He recommends an armed guard in each school, which will cost a broke government billions. The required tax hike to fund his proposal would never be approved by Norquist who is on the NRA Board. It cannot be considered a serious proposal unless he offered to help fund it, which he did not. He then blamed the mentally ill. The NRA fights background checks in the secondary market. A self professed terrorist can buy a gun at a gun show, without having to any ID. If he were truly against access, he would promote background checks on the secondary market. Clearly, the lives of children are not in the calculations he makes, only more sales. He promotes semi-auto weapons with large clips, while resting background checks. When predictable mayhem ensues, his solution is buy more guns to combat the unsafe conditions he created. Astoundingly, gun owners lemming in agreement.
I enjoyed the outdoors when I was taught by my father to hunt and fish I also passed this on to my sons. I remember a time when I told my father that I was thinking about joining the NRA and wanted to know his feelings on that. He told me before I did do that to really think about this. They the NRA started out with noble intentions but they are not what they appear to be. Ostensible I think he used. He further advised me to understand that once I join and later some lunatic goes out and kills a bunch of folks and that person is carrying a membership card, Then all of those members will now be labeled as domestic terrorist for the rest of their life. It only takes a person to do this in the name of the NRA or a Militia regardless if that association agree's or not. That was the best advise I have taken.
Most schools in "inner city" area of the USA already have armed guards, locking doors, security cameras, etc in place. Why? If they didn't, criminals would be selling drugs and having shootouts in those schools. "But we don't want to scare the kids or send them the wrong message ..etc etc" as this author suggests. LOL is all I can say to that! ANY school that doesn't have an armed presence from here on out MIGHT have a massacre. Just like bank robbers don't rob banks with armed guards, statistically, (they chose the ones without bullet proof divides and without armed guards, DUH!!) someone wishing to pump bullets into your kid why they learn how to read and write will choose to do so at the school without a security guard. Those are just the facts. You can choose to deny this. You can deduce that the odds of that happening are slim to none, so why worry about it? But if you choose to forego armed security in the future, you are playing Russian Roulette with your child's life. You might not realize this, but they WILL BE scared at a school without armed security vs knowing a heat packing guard or 2 is patrolling the school and not having to worry every time they hear a scream in the hall ways.
BTW, I am starting to wonder why a certain "curious" aspect of this case is not being discussed by our free "mass media". I am referring to the fact that both the Colorado theater shooters father and the father of the CT school shooting will soon be testifying in Congress with information against the INTL bankers in the LIBOR Scandal. What are the odds of that! Think the mob is bad? I wonder how much money the INTL bankers have at their disposal to silence would be rats or forever shame their family name? Does the technology exist to mind control someone into doing something like this? Google "CIA mind control FOIA information" to get up to speed on how someone can manipulated to do most anything. Did that happen in this case? If we couldn't expose 911 for the obvious inside job that it was I don't have much faith we'll ever expose any "conspiracies" involving our handlers (INTL bankers). I just find it curious that the media isn't at least reporting on this angle of this case.
The CO shooters father is the head scientist at FICO. The CT shooters father is VP of GE Financial. Both are key witnesses vs the INTL bankers in the LIBOR case and will testify in Congress soon.
A declassified CIA document dated 7 Jan 1953 [1] describes the creation of multiple personality in 19-year old girls. "These subjects have clearly demonstrated that they can pass from a fully awake state to a deep H [hypnotic] controlled state ... by telephone, by receiving written matter, or by the use of code, signal, or words and that control of those hypnotized can be passed from one individual to another without great difficulty. It has also been shown by experimentation with these girls that they can act as unwilling couriers for information purposes." BB 32
A CIA document dated 10 Feb 1954 [4] describes an experiment on the creation of unsuspecting assassins: "Miss [deleted] was then instructed (having expressed a fear of firearms) that she would use every method at her disposal to awaken Miss [deleted] (now in a deep hypnotic sleep) and failing this, she would pick up a pistol and fire it at Miss [deleted]. She was instructed that she would not hesitate to "kill." Miss [deleted] carried out these suggestions including firing the (unloaded) gun at [deleted]. After proper suggestions were made, both were awakened. Miss [deleted] expressed absolute denial that the foregoing sequence had happened." BB 36, 37
The concepts involved in manipulating behavior are found by many people both within and outside the Agency [CIA] to be distasteful and unethical. Nevertheless, there have been major accomplishments both in research and operational employment. Over the ten-year life of the program many additional avenues to the control of human behavior have been designated under the MKULTRA charter, including radiation, electro-shock, and harassment substances. Some activities raise questions of legality implicit in the original charter. A final phase of the testing places the rights and interests of US citizens in jeopardy.
Technical Services Division initiated a program for covert testing of materials on unwitting US citizens in 1955. TSD has pursued a philosophy of minimum documentation in keeping with the high sensitivity of the projects. Some files contained little or no data at all. There are just two individuals in TSD who have full knowledge of the MKULTRA program. NB 108-113
Just because a few rats working for "the company" ratted out aspects of their mind control program and it was supposedly de-funded by our gov doesn't mean that it wasn't simply pushed into the "black ops" ledger and funded with profits from illicit drug smuggling or hell, bailout money to the INTL bankers for that matter! Obama and Bush game them 3T bucks of our money without ANY OVERSIGHT whatsoever! Who needs to mess around smuggling drugs for a few Million here and there when you can simply get the POTUS to hand you a few TRILLION!
As a native Nevadan - I know many people in Nevada LOVE their guns. The Nevada of my younger life - was a perfect place for guns because Nevada was rural. People actually ATE what they hunted. And still today, there is a real need in rural Nevada to use a gun. Not against a person but maybe a nuisance? Like a coyote or other animal causing harm to property, livestock, or pets. If you get your jollies blinding and shooting a deer - I don't see the draw - but more power to you. I'm not necessarily anti-gun. And you aren't going to take guns away from anyone in my hometown - without a war. So that is NOT even up for discussion in Nevada.
BUT. . . I was SHOCKED at the callousness of Nevada gun owners in SCREAMING about someone trying to take away their guns. The dead children of Connecticut were not even cold and conservatives/gun enthusiasists with their vile spew were trolling guns, constitutional rights, and extolling the virtues of vigilante style protectionism. Really?
No one outside the military serving actively. I repeat - NO ONE needs an assault rifle.
And -- I have known some terribly crazy people who are into guns. And don't lie and say you don't know people like that. There are many people I know who shouldn't have a gun - and they probably shouldn't drive a car either. It's hard to limit these things.
The reason I'm really responding is as a teacher.
I will NOT carry a gun into my school. I cannot bring a weapon into my classroom. That does NOT mean that I don't think there is risk. That does not mean I don't believe in guns. Teaching school is a risk, a risk I'm willing to take. If I wanted to be safe from harm, liability, accusations, craziness, etc - I would not teach in a public school. My everyday experiences have taught me to be the light - not the troll.
I choose to teach kids to read; I am NOT a police officer. No one should bring a gun into a public school.
Their was an armed guard at Columbine and there was essentially a full police force at Virginia tech (SWAT and all)....
Didn't prevent 40+ deaths...
If you want to go the way of armed guards at every school then let the NRA figure out a way to pay for it. By "figuring out" I don't mean they get to choose what programs to cut to fund this "armed guard" program, but rather what extra taxes their members are willing to incur to raise the additional 5+ billion (mores taxes on guns, bullets, etc)
"No one should bring a gun into a public school." You're right. But if they do, how do you propose stopping them? A) Waiting until they run out of bullets and kill 30-40 kids B) wait until the cops arrive and they off themselves or C) Put a bullet in their head before they can kill but a few kids?
It's amazing..the tough talking Wayne LaPierre. Another shining example of a Vietnam War draft dodger (and he had a low lottery number!!). Nothing like a family friend doctor to label him with a "nervous disorder". I have a problem with tough talkers who have a history of running scared when it suits their own personal interests. That defines Wayne LaPierre.
It's not what anyone wants but we have waited years
for our elected official's to come up with a working solution! So far all they have done is keep filling their own pockets, and the killings keep coming. Firearms are not going away! They will be
here long after we're all gone. So what do we do
in the mean time? First put Guards in every school
then start getting rid of all the dead ass official's that do nothing but feed on us tax payers. They have had years to fix this problem
and we are right back at the beginning.
You've got to hand it to the gun manufacturers and the NRA. Who else would have used the mass murder of children as a marketing opportunity?
Every school should have a drone overhead ,,just in case.
"You've got to hand it to the gun manufacturers and the NRA. Who else would have used the mass murder of children as a marketing opportunity?"
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Shameless Nevada grifter respect..
"You've got to hand it to the gun manufacturers and the NRA. Who else would have used the mass murder of children as a marketing opportunity?"
"father and son agree" "Turning schools into armed fortresses".............. Proof of Liberalism and especially Liberal Democrats in the media are plagued with a mental disease, which is of course the problem. Twenty somethings with minds of three year olds that never have and never will experience reality outside Hollywood movies, video games and journalism.
The NRA carefully weighed what their statement would be after the massacre. They waited an entire week and didn't just sloppily react in the hopes of hyping people up to buy guns and market their organization. Regardless of whether or not one likes the idea of guns in schools, the NRA gets credit for waiting and being careful to make sure that they were clear on their position. Whether or not this involves the marketing of their organization or of guns is immaterial. They are an organization that stands for a particular position and they spoke carefully- they stand to prevent other massacres, not promote them. I am not an NRA member nor do I own any guns, but I respect their fervor for the use of guns by the "good guys" to prevent the "bad guys" from owning the landscape.
The first time a school cop shoots and kills a student, there will be another outcry. Let's look at the Shooters, past and present. Many were students, past and present. And if some of the school cops are former Metro or other LEO's, what sort of an inquest process do we accept for "accidents"?
I recall a student from Minden (Nevada). Shortly after Columbine, he turned in a class mate who had plans.... The "crime-stopper" reward was a 4-year full scholarship. Seems the local cops verified the plans. ANOTHER alternative to guns in schools.
At the gang-infested public high school where I taught, we had armed police officers on campus. This alone prevented violence that otherwise would have had free reign because the thugs themselves don't want to get shot or arrested, but they don't care if innocent others get hurt in the commission of their criminal and dangerous behavior. Believe me.
The NRA waited to carefully......what a joke. The NRA had to spend some time figuring out how to turn tragedy into profit, that's it. The bad guys are the NRA. They demand semi auto weapons are made available. They demand that NO background checks are performed on the secondary market.....what do you think is the logical result of those together? These mass murderers are dead or in prison, but the NRAs DNA is all over the crime scene.
Few citizens are aware that there was an armed officer on duty at Columbine during the massacre!
@first_grade_teacher you need to learn the definition of "assault rifle". It's a term the media spun up to name the "scary, evil black rifles". An actual assault rifle has a select fire switch and can fire automatically as we as semi auto. They are VERY hard to get a hold of and will cost you over $20,000.
An AR-15 or similar semi automatic rifle is a relatively weak weapon. The rounds are not very powerful at all (compared to a bolt action hunting rifle).
I just thought of something, is the new location of Sandy Hook school guarded with armed guards? should it be?
Anyone who believes guns should be in our schools and/or teachers armed has not thought this through or is a complete idiot. Teachers, as a group, are peaceful people whose very nature and position discourages fighting, bullying, and violence of all kinds. Most have never owned a gun nor wish to own one. Yet the NRA and their thoughtless supporters want to force them to own guns and turn our schools all into "O.K. Corrals!" Have we learned nothing from history that they want to return to the lawless vigilante days of the old west? Why are we the only supposedly "civilized" country that allows guns everywhere and has the highest murder rates in the world? I would say that Canada, China, Scandinavia and many other parts of the world are doing a lot of things right that we should be learning from but it appears the NRA and our "macho" military/industrial complex is more interested in their profits and false pride.
Now self defense is a "fetish."
You Obama Idiots are dangerous.
If people knew that at least someone on the school campuses were well trained and had guns, then they may go elsewhere. The deterrent effect could very well be protection enough. Of course if you are mentally insane, you might use a bomb, or anything other than a gun, so limiting guns (you can't get rid of the millions of them) isn't the answer.