As relatives began to say goodbye to their slain children, some were exposing perspectives to combat school shooting violence.
Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett says schools should hire armed guards to protect their students. Many, like that of The Ministry of Dr. Patrick Johnston, believe allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campus would prevent some or all campus killings. The Dr. Johnston’s Ministry recently stated “Gun control laws do not protect good people; they disarm good people. Bad people are encouraged, not intimidated, by gun control laws.” Lastly, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch will visit schools this week to discuss increasing security, including putting guns in elementary schools. Chief Finch’s statement is not uncommon:
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“Gun control supporters have the blood of little children on their hands. Federal and state laws combined to insure that no teacher, no administrator, no adult had a gun at the Newtown school where the children were murdered.” [Larry Pratt, Gun Owners Of America]
- “Had Connecticut not had the no guns in school laws….Had the principal, the maintenance man, a teacher, been allowed to keep a gun in their office, maybe just maybe, this would have come out differently.” [Bob Irwin, The Gun Store]
- “I only wish the kindergarten teacher and principal in Connecticut had been armed.” [Dr. Keith Ablow, Fox News]
- “[S]o looking at this tragedy that happened with K-12, we might have to have an armed employee at the schools, that’s a measure, that’s a measure.” [Michele Fiore, Nevada Assemblywoman]
- “Look at what has happened, all these attacks this year have occurred where guns are banned.” [John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime]
- “Well, I believe those of us who are licensed to carry, are responsible people, shouldn’t be prohibited from carrying in schools or other places.” [Steve Dulan, Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners]
An LSU student blogger offered a unique solution:
“i [sic] would be more for putting a prison-like fence around the school that had one entrance/exit with armed guards at that entrance. i [sic] think that would be more effective at keeping people who don’t belong at the school out at isolate the school from everything else.
While all of these perspectives are interesting, they are not very implementable. First, you’re not going to force teachers to arm themselves. Many teachers are simply not capable of ‘dispatching’ a potential combatant firing a semi-automatic assault rife. Secondly, I am not sure any school district wants the liability of controlling weapons or a potential shoot-out that may only increase the number of injuries and fatalities. Third, let’s unequivicolly state most elected officials are fearful of raising the sleeping dragon. Just who is that sleeping dragon? Well, the National Rifle Association (NRA). In the last election cycle, the NRA spent twenty-four (24) million dollars in electoral contributions, donating to over 200 elected officials.
Non-violence is at the heart of Buddhist thinking and behaviour. The first of the five precepts that all Buddhists follow is “Avoid killing, or harming any living thing.” Buddhism is essentially a peaceful tradition. Nothing in Buddhist scripture gives any support to the use of violence as a way to resolve conflict. Responding to the Newtown tragedy is about doing what’s right. It’s a combination of available legal measures while simultaneously evaluating and refining security plans; testing crisis plans; proactively controlling visitor access and control; updating emergency communications procedures and reinforcing perimeter security.
It’s time like this that men of goodwill must look within and find indelible foundation of love; the very breath of life; the very signature of grace God chiseled unto our soul and bring forth the lasting foundation change. If our nation believes this nation – these United States of America – is the greatest nation on earth, then we must honor and respect all that God created with our own positive action.