I have a serious question for you, please. I promise I'm not trying to bait anyone, but just looking for some opinions and options:
Gun control advocates seem to be settling on an agenda of making background checks mandatory on ALL gun sales, banning the future sale of "assault rifles", and finding a way to identify and treat those with dangerous mental issues. They say this would be a very good start to reducing gun violence, and that over the years and decades ahead we might move away from our current gun-centric society.
Taking this vision at face value, what are we going to do to protect our schools and churches and shopping malls, etc, RIGHT NOW?
What if next Wednesday a mentally deranged person walked into a middle school in a normally peaceful Indiana community and started firing. There is one School Resource (police) Officer on duty during school hours to protect 1,500 students spread out over a 3-building campus. What could be done RIGHT THEN to stop another massacre? Would it take another person with a gun to stop the shooter or are there other options?
Your thoughts and suggestions, please.
S
There'd be another massacre right now. It's such a disingenuous scenario. Your "good guy with a gun" fantasy only happens in the movies and TV since I know that's where you're hoping to take it. Come on, how many times have you used that gun of yours to stop a crime? Somewhere between zero and zero times?
ReplyDeletePat...Pat...Pat...Your spring is wound waaaaaay too tight! Did you not read the first paragraph..."I'm not trying to bait anyone." How is my example a disingenuous scenario? Isn't that EXACTLY what happened in Florida, and Connecticut, and Colorado, and a few other places, too? Did I say I was going to run into a school, guns blazing? Pat, you've been making absolutely nutty comments here on my blog for quite a while, but you've really outdone yourself this time. Of all the people I know, I would bet that YOU are the one who will some day snap and make the news. May I implore you to turn yourself in for psychological examination? You need help.
DeleteI really don't like this turning on each other, L&S. It's exactly what's wrong with the US. Pat made a legit point, and you turned it deeply, wrongly personal. I'm disappointed in you, I thought you were better than this.
DeleteHow so, Mike? I right up front said this was "a serious question", that I wasn't trying to "bait anyone", and that thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated, but Pat turned it into a soliloquy for his personal prejudice. He has been coming here to my site for quite awhile, and instead of addressing my question and offering something constructive, he assumes I'm just a shill for someone else. I think I've demonstrated I can think for myself. I have yet so see that from Pat.
DeletePat is also a one trick pony dick!
DeleteJust to understand... in your scenario it is all or nothing? In other words, "background checks mandatory on ALL gun sales, banning the future sale of "assault rifles", and finding a way to identify and treat those with dangerous mental issues" would be so egregious that joe-six-pack still couldn't get a gun under a 1994 style assault weapons ban?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the number of properly armed police officers (NOT teachers) may need to be increased. But, that would mean a larger tax burden on locals, unless they receive federal subsidies. But, the feds are stretched too thin funding the bloated military. Or maybe the millions of dollars the NRA spends greasing Congress could subsidize local police. Think your Congressional representative would give up his blood money? LaPierre has once again retorted that we need more armed police in schools. Well Wayne, stop bribing Congress and fund more police resource officers. About as likely as Trump releasing his tax returns, as promised.
In my scenario, let's say all those things you/I mentioned were on the books right now. Over time those steps might begin to make a noticeable difference. Arming teachers makes no sense to me, unless they're combat Marine veterans. You hit on two other good points: We likely need more trained police officers in our schools, but yes, it would cost $$$$$ that we can't afford, especially now after we just passed a TRILLION DOLLAR tax cut. We need to claw back (good luck!) a few hundred of those billions to fund worthwhile programs like this. Second, yes, corporate special interest money is perverting our government. It's evil, and the recipients of their money aren't about to bite the hands that are feeding them. But right here, right now, as the bullets are flying, I can't imagine an outcome that wouldn't involve a trained good guy shooting back. I'm hoping someone else might be able to offer up something else.
DeleteAnd to just clarify, by "trained good guy", I mean a trained law enforcement officer, preferably with military experience. Just a guy like myself with 8 hours of classroom would likely just get in the way, or worse, be mistaken for the real shooter.
DeleteAgree, trained law enforcement. We may be headed toward a permanent "lock-down" situation (airport security style). No more open campus in elementary/high school. Arming teachers will only validate the gun culture. Even with an assault weapons ban, gun zealots need to be convinced that the government is not coming to take away ALL of their guns and their rights, as preached by the NRA.
DeleteIt appears if you don't like what someone says you attack them, so I'll decline. I think I may just ease away from your site for a bit.
ReplyDeleteAs you wish. But I was hoping someone like you, a veteran of the world, might be able to offer another option that so far hasn't been suggested. I guess not.
DeleteMike, thinking back on all the comments you've left here in the past, it seems to me that you've always been keen to point out what's wrong, but seldom if ever suggest something REALISTIC that could be done to make things better. Please, when/if you come back, and I mean this sincerely, suggest something constructive that we could build on to make things better. Right know our country seems to have a dearth of new, original ideas.
DeleteYou're not worth the salt, L&S
DeleteAdios
DeleteI have much respect for Mike's intellect, his profession and his service to our country, but I have banned him from my blog, I delete all his comments without reading. He is nasty, sees only one side to a position and is a bitter SOB.
DeleteI grew up with guns, my kids grew up with guns. When out on the ranch I always wore a 22 Ruger with snake shot in it for rattlesnakes and stupid city people who tried to shoot one of our cows, load it in their jeep and say they thought it was a deer when they got caught!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what to do about the guns, but I do know what to do about the kids. Listen to them, talk with them, participate in their lives. Parent them, teach them respect for life. That doesn't happen by giving them everything they want, letting televisions and Ipads and Iphones babysit them.
Just a thought!
EXCELLENT! And stop trying to be your kids "best friend". Try being their teachers, mentors, disciplinarians, and role models. But until our citizens finally "get it" and become the parents they should be, are we just going to have to put up with more of these massacres? I'm at a loss for an answer.
DeleteFor right now?
ReplyDelete1. Tax gun sales
2. Use the funds to finance trained law enforcement officers at all schools
For later, as years go on:
1. Mental health care
2. Background checks, license renewal checks, ban on military-style assault rifles, etc.
You say that won't work in America?
1. Thoughts
2. Prayers
3. God bless America
'Cause we all know how that works...
Good points Betina. I would actually go farther that you: right now...across the board background checks, make reporting of disqualifying events to the background check system strict and immediate, harden schools with limited access entry points & metal detectors, expand cross-reporting between entities/jurisdictions regarding s person's imparted mental health, etc. Later on: greatly expand mental health evaluation and treatment.
DeleteTax gun sales? I think you mean INCREASE gun sales taxes. No problem if the money goes directly to increased security presence. Keep in mind that when you raise taxes TOO high, it creates an even more thriving black market. Look what happens when states raise cigarette taxes greatly...bootlegged cigs go way up, meaning state cig tax revenue actually goes down. Ban military-style assault rifles? Do you mean no NEW assault-style rifle sales, or ALL new and existing assault-style rifles? It would be difficult to pass a NEW AR ban, but it's possible. It would be impossible to get ALL AR's off the streets.
Thanks for putting forth your thoughts and ideas. :)
It is going to take a change in mentality, and improved realistic gun regulations, but in the meantime to answer your question I suggest all students have ID's (electronically checked...also saves taking attendance) and can not enter the building without them...several shootings have been committed by non-students. Several armed officers should be at the doors every morning where the ID's are presented...most shootings seem to be before classes start or early in the day. Check bags, we did that in my office after 911 and it did not slow entry much.. DOn't be afraid to profile, students, teachers and the regular officers would all know who the nut bags are and who to give special attention. If teachers or administrators are trained and willing to carry, they should, but no one should know who is carrying, much like air-marshals, but it should be known that some qualified teachers MAY be carrying.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas, Joe. Very constructive suggestions.
Deletemichael kors handbags
ReplyDeleteyeezy boost
christian louboutin outlet
nike cortez
kobe shoes
balenciaga shoes
nike air max 90
kobe basketball shoes
kd 11 shoes
hermes
look at these guys replica bags online uae Source replica bags blog Goyard Dolabuy replica bags and shoes
ReplyDelete