Arming school staff might save lives

6:19 PM, Jan. 25, 2013  |  Comments
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An event as shocking and saddening as the senseless murder of 20 first-graders and six adults in an elementary school changes the way we look at the world.

It's not the first time children have been killed at school. Sadly, it won't be the last, no matter what anyone does as a result.

But as we all cope with our grief and the fallout from what happened Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn, it's clear we need to recalibrate the conversation. We need to find ways to save lives, even if we understand there are no guarantees in life.

The 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado profoundly changed the way schools are designed to make security far more important, a move that's capitalized on technology such as improved video surveillance at many new schools. It prompted most high schools to partner with local police for placement of a full-time officer at high schools to spot potential problems proactively and react if necessary.

Just like we never dreamed high school students could go on rampage against their classmates 20 years ago, we also didn't think anyone would target defenseless young students in their elementary classrooms. We never considered putting school resource officers there. If we had, chances are the cost and perceived lack of need would have created major debates.

This past week we detailed how local schools are reacting to the Sandy Hook shooting. Some are participating in training from the state. Newark police are helping schools with training designed to help teachers take a proactive approach to an active shooter.

We're sure schools also will revisit their building security, especially for older schools not afforded layouts preferred by today's architects. For example, would traditional school doors withstand a barrage from a gunman when locked with students inside?

But the big questions remain. Should our schools allow staff to be armed on a concealed carry basis? Should every school have at least one armed guard, officer, teacher, or volunteer?

For local schools, the answer is a resounding no so far, a response we certainly understand. Allowing anyone other than a sworn police officer to carry a gun in school must be handled perfectly with clear rules and 100 percent adherence. We don't want kids finding a guard's gun in a bathroom, as happened at a Michigan school recently, or an angry student overpowering an armed teach.

There's also a reasonable argument to be made for stationing someone with a gun at every school. If a properly trained and armed person had been at Sandy Hook that fateful day, it's reasonable to believe they could have stalled the shooter long enough to save at least a few lives.

As school boards weigh these difficult issues, we urge them to keep an open mind to all possibilities for prevention and future threats.

While we want to maintain open schools where children feel welcome, it's time to get fully ahead of the game on school security.

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