Security is a commitment from everyone that most faculty members are not willing to make. Someone armed is a financial commitment that most school budgets cannot handle but is a viable option. Armed retired officers would be another viable layer of security. Having staff members outside and inside lobby areas with sign in and sign outs along with security cameras should also part of a security plan. But a security audit is definately the first step. The "ARMED GUARD" survey should have a "MAYBE" - because Yes or NO doesn't cover all the bases on this topic.

It's a knee jerk reaction to put an armed/unarmed security guard in a school, who really believes that would stop anyone? He/she is not going to be sitting there with their gun out, so they will just be the first one shot. Or the intruder will go thru a back door instead and by the time the guard gets to where they need to be, it will be too late. Where will this stop? Should we put guards in libraries, in church, at the local baseball game? Ridiculous. How about parents start taking some responsibilities for the violence they expose their children to? Video games that have an R rating are being played by 8 year olds. Wake up people!

For me it comes down to odds. From what I've been seeing on the odds of school shooting occurring at all, and specifically occurring in any one school -- there's a greater chance of your kid getting killed by the vending machine in the cafeteria.

Before we go and waste money on a program that may or may not work - let's ask people that understand data what the PROBABILITY of this incident are and act in accordance with facts.

We guard out politicians our ceo's our banks even our homes with guns but won't guard out children? I am for cops in every school. You make the student teacher and parent feel safe.

When the shooting starts, you call the police. Why is it not better for one to be there already? When seconds count, the police are minutes away (unless you put one at the school).

What strikes me in all this is that it is foolish to assume that, just because you hand someone a gun and put him or her on patrol around a school, they will be emotionally able to draw that gun and kill a 14 or 15-year old child even if the child has a gun. And if this is about deterrent, forget it. You put someone in that position, they have to be mentally ready to draw that gun and use it which means that we have to be ready for that to happen.

We are not.

Keith,
How about each town hires one less person in some other area for every additional police officer we have to hire (although I suspect many towns would be able to divert at least some current officers to such an assignment)? Problem solved, unless you believe that our government is currently running at maximum efficiency. In the end, I would be willing to pay more to increase the security of my kids at school (and your kids too for that matter).

But Keith, you can't hire an armed guard to sit with your kids (armed or not the school would not allow it and since it is a "gun-free" zone, you could not bring anyone in with a gun (unless, of course, we agree to allow a police officer)).

KK - I have to be honest with you, I'm not familiar with the studies that have been done, but I can tell you that I work in a school, and each year on Veterans Day, we have a veteran (usually a recently home veteran) give a speech to our 3rd & 4th grade students. The vast majority of the boys are only interested in hearing about types of weapons and types of ammo. They are excited to hear about people being killed. One of the vets said to me after this years session - "these kids play too much Tour of Duty". So while I cannot speak of studies, I can speak of my experiences and too many kids have been desensitized to violence. They struggle with knowing the differences between fantasy and reality. I also wonder when the last time you were in a school. Most schools cover a lot of ground these days so a lone security person, would not be able to cover the entire campus. Most schools put security guards by their front doors and they are not sitting their with their weapons out. I don't believe they would be able to draw their gun in time if an intruder came thru the front door. If an intruder comes thru another door, lives will be lost while the guard gets to that location. and I ask again, where will it end? We can't put a cop on every corner.

People -- We are not protecting a bank, what happens when half the children have recess outside, do we get an extra guard for the playground, more for after school when everybody is outside. Or maybe we should have an armed guard at everybody house but wait who will protect the armed guard, I know we will give an armed guard to the armed guard. There now I feel safer.

Furthermore, will we stop the teachers opening windows now in case someone comes in there? Will we install bullet proof glass? What about cinemas given the recent shooting there? I do not want my children being educated in a prison like setting. I work in a school and would feel no safer with armed security guards, in truth I would feel less safe with guns in the building. The risks of this occurring in our schools are slim and we should be spending money on educational necessities. Armed guards would be a huge waste of public resources. It just provides an illusion of safety. In reality, a mass shooting could occur anywhere at anytime. Lets keep things in perspective.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin

Anyone who is against armed guards in schools is crazy. Did anyone ask the Chief why they wouldn't be there in 8 months??? Let the teachers forgo some of their benefits to pay for the guards. There are armed guards in Walmart for God's cake, why not in schools? Is it a money issue? Then let the unions figure it out. Furthermore, if you are FOR taking away rights of law-abiding citizens in the form of "gun-control" but you are against guards in the schools, you can't be reasoned with.

"I am for cops in every school. You make the student teacher and parent feel safe."
- DPO

"I work in a school and would feel no safer with armed security guards, in truth I would feel less safe with guns in the building."
- Mellie

When it comes to protecting my children or anyone else's, I don't care how I "feel". If something makes my kid safer, but it makes me "feel" uncomfortable, I'm going to just have to deal with it. In the same manner, if something doesn't actually work, but lulls me into a sense of complacency, I'm not doing anyone any favors by supporting it.

So what do I do when it comes to making these decisions? I look at reports prepared by experts and evaluate what they are saying. That's why it disturbs me to see comments like:

"I'm not familiar with the studies that have been done, but I can tell you that I work in a school, and each year..."
- Lucky
or
"Like "lucky", I am also not familiar with recent studies of violent video games. Also like "lucky", I work in a school...over the past 10 years it has occurred MANY times with Many different students. It's quite disturbing."
- Leaving

Anecdotal data is HORRIBLE. That's why we TEACH KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS YOU WORK AT -- to never rely on stories and instead, to use the scientific method to test the null hypothesis. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the issue and let's be realistic about how we deal with such important topics.

I agree that it does not happen often, but when it does happen at a school, it is horrific. The time it takes for the police to arrive is time during which more children and teachers are killed. Of course, having a police officer at the school does not guaranty the safety of our kids. Yes, a gunman could get lucky and kill the police officer first. Yes, the police officer could accidentally shoot someone in the cross fire (of course that could happen when the police arrive several minutes later too). There are many scenarios you can throw out where having a police officer at the school did not prevent all or even any deaths. But a police officer may also save some lives by killing or wounding the gunman, slowing him/her down, getting back up to arrive faster, etc. Given that the state imposes a "gun free" zone around schools (which I have no problem with), shouldn't the state have the responsibility to protect those in the gun free zone (if we disarm people we should have a greater responsibility in protecting them from those who disregard the law)? And of course, other solutions should also be considered and implemented (let's take a look at our mental health laws, and other ways to reduce violent crime, etc.). And maybe once all of those other solutions have been implemented there will be no need for a police officer at the school. But if you are looking for something that might help starting tomorrow, a police officer is a good (and easily implemented) start.

That's great.....you people protect your money with armed guards but you can't have a few looking after your children?????? WTF is wrong with this picture????? which is more important to you????? answer me that......

"Surprise is the greatest factor of War"- Tom Clancy
The ultimate goal is never having to defend ones-self, but knowing how to doesn't hurt.
Police and Armed Guards may patrol public schools, but what happens when the last bell rings and school is over for the day ? Are kids "less" vulnerable to being attacked outside of school ?
More instruction, education, and training should be the guide-lines we're taking to curb violence. That includes self-defense tactics.
The one obvious conclusion to all of the cases involving our schools being attacked is that the occupants ( students, teachers, and staff ) were "defenseless".
So the obvious solution is giving the occupants the necessary methods to defend themselves against such attacks. What to do with a ball-point pen, a belt buckle, high-heel shoes, a chalked-up eraser, a rubber band/paper clip, a whistle, a fire extinguisher, a house key etc. seem primative now, but not when it's all there is.
Armed Guards will only lead to attacker showing up more heavily armed to combat the newest obstacle, and any school that is using armed police or guards is just asking for an escalated assault. Eliminating temptation is going to take critical thinking, wit, and surprise. Catching the attacker " off guard" before an assault occur's should be every school and districts "new teaching tool" !