The debate continues over security in schools since the recent school shootings which shocked the nation. According to the SunSentinel, a school board in Ohio has voted to let certain employees of the schools carry concealed weapons. These four employees have a gun permit and will take tactical training. “Jamie Grime, superintendent of the Montpelier Village schools in western Ohio, would not identify the four employees but said they are not teachers.”
The country is divided on the issue of more security in schools. The NRA advocates for armed security guards in all schools, while the Obama administration and others advocate for stricter rules applying to gun possession.
The issue of armed guards in schools is controversial. The Montpellier Village Schools have made their decision which seems to be a compromise. Their schools will be armed; but, the weapons will not be in plain sight. Their answer to security would not be to use security guards which can make the students uneasy, but will be selected individuals who carryout daily jobs for the schools. These employees will now have this extra task to protect the school against the criminals who want to destroy it.
The school board’s stance is ratified by Ohio State law. “The school board in Montpelier Village, a town of 4,100 people, also cited in its decision on Wednesday the shooting at a high school in the town of Chardon near Cleveland last February that claimed the lives of three students.”
"The recent shootings have made me re-evaluate my thoughts on how to ensure that our students have a safe place to learn." said Debra Clum, a Montpelier school board member. Grime said the plan will not go into effect for at least six weeks to give the school district time to conduct an education campaign.”
Tipp City and Springboro districts in Ohio are also starting talks on arming their schools. Jim Rigano who is a Springboro school member put the topic on the agenda. He believes that having security with employees carrying concealed weapons would deter would-be shooters.
However, the latest student shooting at Taft Union High School showed the shooter who was a student with a gun with one thing on his mind and that was to retaliate against another student. Taft Union High School has a security guard. The shooter would have known that. Unfortunately, the security guard was snowed in that day. Furthermore, Sam Stein a writer for Huffington Post, reports there was an armed guard at Columbine High school the day of the shootings there as well.
Rigano is most likely right in that armed guards or armed employees of schools may deter some would-be shooters. Unfortunately, it will not deter all potential shooters.
Comments