1/ I keep seeing this suggestion to provide armed security at every school as a solution to the gun violence that's slaughtering America's children. I want to believe it's offered with good intentions, but let's chat real quick about why that doesn't work. (thread)
2/ First, let's talk about intentions. For some strange reason, a lot of folks think that one of these terrorists will abide by a code of chivalry in announcing they're going to fire their weapon before they do. Why is this important? Reaction time. Think about it.
3/ Even if I'm a security guard who's armed to the teeth, there's nothing stopping a student from walking up calmly, reaching into their bag calmly, and without warning, taking out a handgun and getting off at least a few shots (but probably more) before I can respond.
4/ You don't get a warning with that first shot. It's at their discretion. It's incredibly unfair, and isn't that kinda obvious? There's no rulebook. They'll most likely get at least a couple shots off. And if they successfully kill the guard first, what then?
5/ I served in the military. When securing a perimeter in a hostile territory, your unit is supposed to provide 360-degree security. All sides covered, either by some kind of tall barrier or personnel with weapons pointed in that direction and security at each entrance.
6/ If you're expecting a hostile threat, those weapons are loaded. You're combat ready. You're alert. Perimeter checks are still conducted for the directions that have barriers. You try to have eyes in all directions. So, here's why that's really not so feasible for a school.
7/ First, let's assume a school has just two entrances, which is absurdly tiny. ONLY two. Metal detectors at both to check all incoming students and personnel. They have to be staffed by armed professionals. Otherwise, what's the point? But there's a problem.
8/ That's only covering the two entrances. You can't pull away those guards, or you can, but then, you have to lock that entrance. Again: what's to stop someone from showing up with a gun at any time of day? That entrance always needs to be secure.
9/ So, you have the entrances covered, but what about the school grounds? What's to stop the terrorist from roving the grounds and killing? What about walking up to a classroom window and firing into them? So, then you have two options...
10/ Either you have EVEN MORE guards roving on the grounds in all directions or the entire campus is surrounded by an insurmountable wall with 1 or 2 entrances through which all students and personnel must be scanned and processed by armed security. Or basically: a military base.
11/ Of course... military bases are not always paragons of security: 12 were killed at the Washington Navy Yard in 2013, 13 were killed at Fort Hood in 2009, and several others besides those. All mass shootings. On military bases with reasonable security.
12/ Unless we literally turn every school into a fortress with highly-trained security professionals covering vulnerable entrances, the whole "just increase security" thing doesn't really work. Especially against someone with an AR-15 whose only objective is to kill at all costs.
13/ Oh, arm the teachers, you say? Let me get this straight: in addition to being subject-matter experts on their academic area, public school teachers are also roped into being counselors and often part-time parents, and now, you're asking they be trained security professionals?
14/ Because simply giving a gun to a teacher doesn't solve the problem. They have to be trained (nbcnews.trib.al/IECnJ2x). It's not just a matter of point-and-shoot. That's naive. And what if a student overpowers them? Or steals the gun? Or there's an accidental discharge?
15/ The problem with people who claim more guns will solve the problem is that they fail to recognize these terrorists don't care about dying. If they don't care if they die, they'll take their chances in firing first. What if there are two students like at Columbine? Or three?
16/ That's a nightmare scenario: Imagine three or four students, all with AR-15s, attacking at different areas of a school in a coordinated effort.
Enhanced security is admirable. It may help, but it will not solve. It will not prevent. And it may even make it worse.
Enhanced security is admirable. It may help, but it will not solve. It will not prevent. And it may even make it worse.
17/ Better to address this: according to @GiffordsCourage, 31 states don't require any background checks for private sale of firearms. In fact, only 9 states and D.C. require universal background checks.
18/ In Florida, nearly every county has no requirement for background checks. Kind makes it a moot point for those that do. Just drive 20 minutes into a neighboring county. Easy.
You also don't have to register your firearm. In fact, it's illegal to have any such registry.
You also don't have to register your firearm. In fact, it's illegal to have any such registry.
19/ So... an 18 year-old high school senior in Florida can buy a firearm from a private seller with no background check, no license, and no requirement to register. If that doesn't terrify you, if that doesn't wake you up to the problem at hand, I'm not sure anything will.
20/ Throwing more guns at the problem isn't going to make it go away. It's not going to keep us safe. It's not going to save our children. It is an incredibly childish notion to think armed security will prevent school shootings like this. /thread
