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First and foremost gun owners are not responsible for this problem and it isn't our obligation to solve it in order to keep our rights. We are, however, concerned citizens and parents so we're happy to discuss and do what we can. But our rights are non negotiable and not up for subjugation because of what some evil idiots do.
With that said, this is an enormous and deeply complex problem. But guns are damn sure not the reason that this nut job went in and shot up that school. What are the reasons?
1) Decades worth of decay of our family structures and values
2) Significant rise in single parent families and particularly that many boys are growing up without fathers.
3) Whatever is left of our families, they are doing everything they can to insulate their children from all forms of stress, anxiety, hard work, failure, etc. Kids are being taught that all they have to do to succeed is to show up and collect their trophy. They are poorly equipped to deal with the harsh realities that life throws at them.
4) Increase in technology. Use of technology (devices) have replaced our relationships. We're more connected now than we ever have been but we're more alone and more isolated than we ever have been. We have no sense of tribe, no sense of community, no investment in those communities, and very poor support systems. This isn't just technology related but it's certainly a big part of it.
5) The antidepressant drugs we're giving our children
6) Our schools are trying to raise our little boys like they do our little girls. We need a lot of discussion around what our boys need to grow up emotionally strong and healthy and how that differs from what our girls need.
7) Lack of quality mental health care
Each one of the above issues is ENORMOUS and complex. And it didn't get to it's current state overnight. It's taken decades to get where we are today so it's going to take a lot of time to clean up this mess. And I don't have any easy solutions on how to do that. These are deeply complex socio an cultural problems that need to be fixed.
What will help? Honestly, the easiest thing to do (and it's still a monumental task) and the thing that will help the most is hardening our schools. There are four facets to this...
1) Increase the physical security of schools. Strong fences, gates and doors. Badged identification for all students. Doors remain locked at all times and you need a badge to move through sections. Outer doors needs to be stout and locked while kids are on campus. Ideally main doors should be guarded but if there are too many then there should at least be a camera on them. The only way onto campus when school is in session is through the office...but that remains locked down too. You have to be buzzed in. All classroom doors should be capable of being barricaded. Various sections of the school can be locked down electronically like some hospitals have. Every school is different and will likely have it's own set of unique challenges but I think you get the idea here. This should be priority one for all administrators and their teams. NOTHING is more important. Most everything else should be dropped until the school is secure.
2) High quality trained armed guards. I'm not talking about rent-a-cops. I'm talking about highly skilled individuals that are capable of dealing with something like this. They are the first line of defense. They are the hunters. When things go south, they converge on the threat and try to eliminate it.
3) Arm and train any teacher who wants it. They are the last line of defense. They don't go looking for the shooter. They stay with their students, hunkered down in their classrooms. The kids are behind the teacher. The teacher is between the kids and the door. Gun drawn at the low ready, pointed toward the door. Also, every teacher, administrator and the hunters carry a radio. EVERYONE.
4) Trauma kits in every class room. Train every teacher, administrator and kid from fourth grade on up basic gunshot trauma first aid...how to apply a tourniquet, compression bandages, chest seals, etc.
The idea here is to make it like your home security. The goal is to make your home the least attractive one to break into so that the burglar goes elsewhere. Hopefully shooters bypass our schools in favor of easier targets...like a theater. As messed up as that still is.
With that said, this is an enormous and deeply complex problem. But guns are damn sure not the reason that this nut job went in and shot up that school. What are the reasons?
1) Decades worth of decay of our family structures and values
2) Significant rise in single parent families and particularly that many boys are growing up without fathers.
3) Whatever is left of our families, they are doing everything they can to insulate their children from all forms of stress, anxiety, hard work, failure, etc. Kids are being taught that all they have to do to succeed is to show up and collect their trophy. They are poorly equipped to deal with the harsh realities that life throws at them.
4) Increase in technology. Use of technology (devices) have replaced our relationships. We're more connected now than we ever have been but we're more alone and more isolated than we ever have been. We have no sense of tribe, no sense of community, no investment in those communities, and very poor support systems. This isn't just technology related but it's certainly a big part of it.
5) The antidepressant drugs we're giving our children
6) Our schools are trying to raise our little boys like they do our little girls. We need a lot of discussion around what our boys need to grow up emotionally strong and healthy and how that differs from what our girls need.
7) Lack of quality mental health care
Each one of the above issues is ENORMOUS and complex. And it didn't get to it's current state overnight. It's taken decades to get where we are today so it's going to take a lot of time to clean up this mess. And I don't have any easy solutions on how to do that. These are deeply complex socio an cultural problems that need to be fixed.
What will help? Honestly, the easiest thing to do (and it's still a monumental task) and the thing that will help the most is hardening our schools. There are four facets to this...
1) Increase the physical security of schools. Strong fences, gates and doors. Badged identification for all students. Doors remain locked at all times and you need a badge to move through sections. Outer doors needs to be stout and locked while kids are on campus. Ideally main doors should be guarded but if there are too many then there should at least be a camera on them. The only way onto campus when school is in session is through the office...but that remains locked down too. You have to be buzzed in. All classroom doors should be capable of being barricaded. Various sections of the school can be locked down electronically like some hospitals have. Every school is different and will likely have it's own set of unique challenges but I think you get the idea here. This should be priority one for all administrators and their teams. NOTHING is more important. Most everything else should be dropped until the school is secure.
2) High quality trained armed guards. I'm not talking about rent-a-cops. I'm talking about highly skilled individuals that are capable of dealing with something like this. They are the first line of defense. They are the hunters. When things go south, they converge on the threat and try to eliminate it.
3) Arm and train any teacher who wants it. They are the last line of defense. They don't go looking for the shooter. They stay with their students, hunkered down in their classrooms. The kids are behind the teacher. The teacher is between the kids and the door. Gun drawn at the low ready, pointed toward the door. Also, every teacher, administrator and the hunters carry a radio. EVERYONE.
4) Trauma kits in every class room. Train every teacher, administrator and kid from fourth grade on up basic gunshot trauma first aid...how to apply a tourniquet, compression bandages, chest seals, etc.
The idea here is to make it like your home security. The goal is to make your home the least attractive one to break into so that the burglar goes elsewhere. Hopefully shooters bypass our schools in favor of easier targets...like a theater. As messed up as that still is.
Best post on CalGuns since I have been a member.
I would only add that our police and teachers have there hands tied.
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