Do you think that schools should have armed guards?

Answer 1

I think each school district needs to evaluate its own situation. Some districts have enough crime and violence to warrant armed guards. Others do not. Cameras and metal detectors may be enough. School districts are not cookie cutters of one another. They are unique.

Answer 2

Bound's hubby, the teacher, here:

It sounds like many of the respondents are not school employees. I have been a teacher for 25 years. I have been in my current school for 23 years. I respect everyone's opinion on this issue ... honestly, this is not only a concern my wife and I share, it is a concern of the majority of my (high school) students and my colleagues.

My school has two local police officers (euphemistically called "resource officers") assigned between the high school and middle school within the district. By departmental policy, they must carry their duty weapon in the school. Initially, I was concerned, since there are several incorrigible students in my school. To date, no one has attempted to take either officer's weapon. The biggest problem I see is that they are not consistently in the building.

A quick count of the building where I teach, suggests that there are at least 62 exterior doors. Unfortunately, even though they are supposed to be locked during the day, too many students exit the building (legally or illegally) and the doors are less than fully secured. All too realistically, our two resource officers could not be anywhere an intruder enters the bulding instantly.

Do I think schools should have armed guards ... I have mixed feelings. To secure the school I work in, we would need at least 23 armed guards at entry check points for the time the school is open (6 a.m. to almost 11 p.m.) This, to say the least, is cost prohibitive. With the way students dress, they could bring weapons into the building past guards. This would also mean 23 check points with metal detectors ... also cost prohibitive! My school has a population of about 1200 ... to pass through detectors, the kids would have to arrive at school 1/2 to 3/4 hours before the start of the school day.

What if the threat didn't have a gun, but drove a vehicle into the building, what good would an armed guard serve? Remember, we live in a sick society, and we have not had the guts to sentence our transgressors according to their offenses. Can we mount a realistic defense in our schools to keep our kids safe? .... Probably not.

Would I be comfortable with armed guards in the schools? Only if I knew they could shoot better than me ... I have confidence in our resource officers because I know they can shoot effectively and have an even temperament. I also think I would be less comfortable without armed personnel in the school.

Answer 3

That's the way I imagined "Communist Russia" to be. Although now, I'm suspecting that my imagination ran amok on this image. Wouldn’t it be super ironic if we turned into a country more controlling than “Communist Russia”?

Forcing such a requirement would certainly abolish all Private Schools raising the cost of Tuition above what even the rich could pay. How would we enforce such stuff on places like "Amish Schools"?

Instead of looking to the Government to provide for you may I suggest that we pull for more "Virtue" or "Religious" classes in schools. What would it be like if the public schools offered classes for every religious belief funded by time donations from ppl of that religion; cirriculm approved by the school board. What if we brought more God to the students rather than guns?

Answer 4

I don't think they should have guns, no. Alot of kids might be slick enough just to get it somehow. NO guns at all should be allowed in schools. the guards though would be a great idea I think especially if the school has a history of violent acts or violent kids. Good Question!!

Answer 5

i think its time to ffffnnn change deploy the MILITARY!
Armed gaurds?
not enuf, need m16s and aks beyach!

Answer 6

Sounds too fascist and totalitarian to me.

Answer 7

no, it will not stop violence, nor will gun control, i think they should have better security entry points in the school

Answer 8

well that depends on where you live

Answer 9

i dunno. it would scare the kids but would definetly prevent problems such as the recent amish shooting.