What happens when two famous tough guys team up together? They fight for security in American schools. According to Mail Online posted yesterday and updated today, “The self-proclaimed 'America's Toughest Sheriff' is joining forces this weekend with action movie star Steven Seagal to train volunteer armed posse members to defend Phoenix-area schools against gunmen.”
Mail Online reports that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced the controversial plan in the wake of the December Newtown, Conn., school shooting that left 27 people dead, including the gunman and 20 first-graders The exercise is planned for Saturday at a closed school site in suburban Fountain Hills outside Phoenix where sheriff's SWAT members will act as shooters and 25 teenagers will play the part of students during mock scenarios involving up to three gunmen.”
Why choose Steven Seagal?
Steven Seagal is a martial arts expert. According to biography.com, “he opened a martial arts academy and became a bodyguard for such celebrities as Kelly LeBrock and Hollywood agent Michael Orvitz. Biography.com goes on to say, Seagal's mysterious past has recently come under media scrutiny. Though he remains guarded, he has occasionally hinted about involvement with the CIA. Further speculation has surrounded the work he did on behalf of Tibetan freedom fighters, and it was not until 1997 that he mentioned the large amounts of money he claimed to have donated to various religious organizations. Seagal has presented himself as a serious student of Buddhism who spends many hours meditating, studying, and practicing to become a healer.”
Joe Arpaio
According to the Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office, Joe Arpaio runs, “the nation’s third largest Sheriff’s Office which employs over 3400 people. But even before he became Sheriff in 1993, Joe Arpaio was one tough lawman. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953, and as a Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, NV, police officer for almost five years, Arpaio went on to build a federal law enforcement career and a reputation for fighting crime and drug trafficking around the world.”
The website continues, “As chief law enforcement officer for the county, Arpaio continues to reduce crime with hard-hitting enforcement methods. His deputies and detectives have solved several high-profile murder cases, including numerous child murders. The posse, whose ranks have increased to 3,000 members under Arpaio, is the nation’s largest volunteer posse. Posse men and women help in search and rescue and other traditional police work as well as in special operations like rounding up deadbeat parents, fighting prostitution, patrolling malls during holidays, and investigating animal cruelty complaints. The posse’s contributions are invaluable and essentially free to taxpayers.”
Of course America is still divided over the use of firearms in schools. However, many would say, “that tough times require tough measures.” If a school is determined to hire security that is one thing; however, this program goes further to teach students what to do in case a gunman targets their school. With these two tough men you can be sure their program will be successful.
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