How Can We Keep Our Schools Safe?

When trying to solve any problem/issue, the first thing you need are the real facts… those who would try to cloud/shroud this… shame on them. The number and severity of “real school shootings” is probably the most relevant thing when first trying to decide how to go about stopping/preventing/predicting these attacks from happening in the first place. Investigating a 32 year old guy who shot himself on school grounds, is irrelevant & will not stop mass shootings…. you see. Everybody wants to solve this… those spreading false info, maybe have another agenda as well… that’s not helping.

We are all in agreement about keeping our children safe. However, these shootings are a political tool to push gun control. Hear me out before turning all red with steam coming out of your ears…

If the politicians on both sides want to save our children from needless deaths then they would start with the deaths from distracted driving. Text messaging being the biggest factor. More deaths from distracted driving than school shootings. Its hard to demonize and politicize a texting driver vs. a school shooter. Hence there is no media witch hunt on texting and teen deaths.

Harden our Schools. Its that simple. It’s too bad that eliminating deaths from distracted driving is not as simple as hardening our schools from outside threats.

I do agree with you DTW. Both sides of the extreme are not helping having a rational discussion about this. I just got an email this morning from one of my hunting buddies about the political agenda here in MN and our legislature wanting to take all guns away. And guess what, they wanted you to send money. I don’t think that is helping either.

Texting and driving is a huge issue, but I don’t think it’s relevant in this discussion. What about all the kids who don’t die in a school shooting??? They are likely scarred for life and that is a huge tragedy in itself.

The reason I posted that article, was to illustrate that the armed security guard did his job and ended the threat. Shot that SOB dead. If this is what you mean by “harden the schools” then we are in agreement on that aspect as well.

That is one way of dealing with it… but I would rather we focus on the mental well being or lack there of, with our youths these days, that is the real issue. Not falsely declare war on the weapons, or hire Ex Seals and Green Berets to take out the mentally ill students. Until we get to the root of the problem, the weed will keep growing back and after the next incident… everybody is confused again why this goes on. I defer to the banging your head against the wall scenario and outcome of it.

I saw on the news today that more kids have been killed by dressers in the last 5 years than in school shootings.

biggill wrote:

I saw on the news today that more kids have been killed by dressers in the last 5 years than in school shootings.

Does that mean dressers are the bigger problem and school shootings not so bad? I don’t understand these comparisons to car accidents and other things. Accidents, although unfortunate, are a part of life. School shootings are not.

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
I saw on the news today that more kids have been killed by dressers in the last 5 years than in school shootings.

Does that mean dressers are the bigger problem and school shootings not so bad? I don’t understand these comparisons to car accidents and other things. Accidents, although unfortunate, are a part of life. School shootings are not.

I would love to believe that. But evil exists in the world. In a nation of over 300 million people and 1/4 of those in school, evil is going to exist there too. We should take all reasonable precautions to ensure kids are safe, but should not take any extreme measures.

I think people bring up car accidents (IE texting and driving) and dressers (climbing toddlers) because the answer there is to educate youth on the dangers & securing the dressers to the wall, not have EVERYBODY turn in their cell phone and their dressers. Eliminating them would certainly solve all the issues, just as turning in certain weapons would solve school shootings? So why the double standard ? Because, anybody reasonable and clear minded knows, the issue is not the cell phone, the dresser or the gun. Until we realize this, number 18, 11 or whatever will happen.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Does that mean dressers are the bigger problem and school shootings not so bad? I don’t understand these comparisons to car accidents and other things. Accidents, although unfortunate, are a part of life. School shootings are not.

Yes it does. Btw, about twice as many kids and school employees are killed in route to school each year on average than by gun violence.

I was doing a buch of statistical research last night about various ways our kids are killed at or on the way to school and gun violence is near the bottom. If I get a few hours I’ll compile a bunch of data and links so you can see for yourself.

The ONLY reason this gets so much press is because it $ell$. Plain and simple. It also gets people elected.

We have the power to protect our schools better, screen for mental health better, and certainly take tips to the FBI more seriously. So why isn’t it happening?

I agree, evil does exist and only a matter of time until the next one.

We also have the power to anchor our dressers…

About the same number of kids are killed each year in transport to school and it has been determined that its is not worth further action. Why guns then?

We as individual parents have the power to anchor our dressers. It is our choice as parents to evaluate the risk and make that call. Once I send my kid off to school, I have no control.

As for the transport to school….are you referring to public school buses or including car crashes from parents who choose to drive their kids? You can’t tell me that a bunch of kids die on school buses each year.

And your still not accounting for the thousands of kids who survive a school shooting. Do you really think they’re normal, happy little kids after something like that???

lindyrig79 wrote:

You can’t tell me that a bunch of kids die on school buses each year.

If I remember right most are hit by the bus or by a car at a bus stop. Only a couple per year on average actually on the bus. Bus stops are still considered on the school’s “watch”.

lindyrig79 wrote:

And your still not accounting for the thousands of kids who survive a school shooting. Do you really think they’re normal, happy little kids after something like that???

I would venture to guess the survivors in the line of fire would be the most affected. A much smaller member. The bigger concern is how the media makes everyone a victim and obscures their understanding of the event and what to do about it. It’s amazing how the media has portrayed every single student in this country as a victim. This angers me the most.

If you haven’t watched any of the CNN Town Hall I highly recommend you watch at least some of it. Go to YouTube and search CNN Town Hall.

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
You can’t tell me that a bunch of kids die on school buses each year.

If I remember right most are hit by the bus or by a car at a bus stop. Only a couple per year on average actually on the bus. Bus stops are still considered on the school’s “watch”.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
And your still not accounting for the thousands of kids who survive a school shooting. Do you really think they’re normal, happy little kids after something like that???

I would venture to guess the survivors in the line of fire would be the most affected. A much smaller member. The bigger concern is how the media makes everyone a victim and obscures their understanding of the event and what to do about it. It’s amazing how the media has portrayed every single student in this country as a victim. This angers me the most.

If you haven’t watched any of the CNN Town Hall I highly recommend you watch at least some of it. Go to YouTube and search CNN Town Hall.

I have no idea what you and lindyrig79 are even debating anymore. It seemed for a while that you both were arguing the same point in a different way? Somehow even that has gotten lost.

biggill wrote:

We also have the power to anchor our dressers…

About the same number of kids are killed each year in transport to school and it has been determined that its is not worth further action. Why guns then?

Sounds like you would be ok if some wacko mowed down a classroom where your kids goes to school? You see things like that can be prevented by stricter background checks, metal detectors and officers in schools as well as raising the age for certain guns until these wackos reach maturity and can make adult decisions.
Getting killed on a bus is pretty rare if you ask me. Maybe if you got hit by a bus? The buses sit so high off the ground for a reason. I aint against guns but I am against guns in the hands of so called adults that have not reached maturity. Your argument is stupid so sit out a couple plays.

eyeguy507 wrote:

Sounds like you would be ok if some wacko mowed down a classroom where your kids goes to school?

Wow. Really?

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

have no idea what you and lindyrig79 are even debating anymore. It seemed for a while that you both were arguing the same point in a different way? Somehow even that has gotten lost.

I am suggesting that that school shooting are being used as political pawns by the liberal media to gain ground on gun control. As tragic and horrific as these events are, they pail in comparison to some of the issues killing our children today. I highlighted some pretty insignificant causes of death for comparison to the statistics of violent guns deaths in schools.

And now, these children are clearly being used by the liberal media as pawns to push their gun control agenda. Let’s face it, guns are sexy. This subject gets people talking and watching the so called news. It makes these corporations big $$$$.

Sure our schools could be safer but I’m not going to put this agenda above things like the opioid crisis and mental health. If I’m going to worry about something that could potentially harm my kids, I am going to focus on the most likely scenarios. Violent school shootings isn’t one of them.

Creating more confusing hoops to jump through to buy a gun is only going to make this worse.

You want to do something about this shooting? Hold the F-ing FBI responsible for not doing their job. Hold the deputy responsible for not doing his job.

Go back to the Texas massacre. Our military didn’t do their damn job by failing to report this guy for assault.

Most of this has already been said.

More effort identifying the “wacko” please and when they are identified, be proactive, not reactive. Problem addressed swiftly and we “did something” for the crowd demanding that.

Armed security and metal detectors. Worked for the airports, why not schools?

biggill wrote:

And now, these children are clearly being used by the liberal media as pawns to push their gun control agenda. Let’s face it, guns are sexy. This subject gets people talking and watching the so called news.

I watched the 60 minutes report on the students from Parkland and this thinking is incorrect. The kids are turning down any money that has strings attached (ie, politicians saying here’s $$ if you endorse me and I’ll push your cause), they are not allowing famous people to use the marches to market themselves, it’s really quite cool.

And if anyone is paying attention today, this Parkland shooting has ignited a fire in our youth and everyone (media, politicians) are paying attention as these kids are our next generation of voters and consumers and they are speaking loudly.

As hunters and outdoorspeople, we have to be concerned that we are raising a generation of kids that see hunting and fishing as requiring large amounts of money in equipment, access, etc and a generation that largely would feel better about banning guns than using them for recreational purposes.

That’s the scary part.

ET

cougareye wrote:

I watched the 60 minutes report on the students from Parkland and this thinking is incorrect. The kids are turning down any money that has strings attached (ie, politicians saying here’s $$ if you endorse me and I’ll push your cause), they are not allowing famous people to use the marches to market themselves, it’s really quite cool.

I saw that too. That’s very good, except the media has already planted their seed and they are eager to grow. Go to the March For our Lives website. Go to the Press menus and view the stories they have posted.

I have to have some respect for the kids running this campaign the way they have but unfortunately they are being misled.

Again, I encourage anyone to do some research on the March and the CNN town hall. It will open your eyes about the level of guidance the media is responsible for.

I respect your opinion on this matter biggill but fear that it is wishful thinking. Blaming CNN is too easy of a crutch. These kids have over a million twitter followers, their message resonates with their generation and many others because we the generations before them have failed to protect them.

My kids fear school, imagine having this fear when you grew up, it wasn’t even a consideration that we were unsafe decades ago. And don’t give me the line about mental health, there were mentally ill when we were in school, and those kids were more than likely treated much more harshly with no support mechanisms at all.

So just sit here in the safe haven of other sportsmen and throw up the easy targets of liberals and CNN and gun control. Just sit here …. as usual. The kids are done waiting for us.

ET

I’m truly afraid you’re right but I feel we’re giving in to the narrative because we’re to preoccupied by what we’re be told rather than seeking out the facts.

It is my opinion that further complicating the gun application process is going to result in further errors. I am all for keeping guns out of the hands of people that will hurt themselves and others but adding more confusion will spell disaster in the long run.

Not only that but a lot of the legislation that is being introduced at a state level is the ability for anyone to call authorities on any individual and claim they are a threat. This will allow law enforcement to enter people’s homes without warrants and take their guns on a tip that may or may not have merit. This should scare everyone.

cougareye wrote:

So just sit here in the safe haven of other sportsmen and throw up the easy targets of liberals and CNN and gun control. Just sit here …. as usual. The kids are done waiting for us.

ET

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This.

Some of you guys better wake up and stop talking about dressers and distracted driving and every other excuse not to take action. Be part of the solution or you may end up hurting us sportsman even further

cougareye wrote:

And if anyone is paying attention today, this Parkland shooting has ignited a fire in our youth and everyone (media, politicians) are paying attention as these kids are our next generation of voters and consumers and they are speaking loudly.

Their enthusiasm will fade long before they make a difference and they will be back to eating Tide-pods in no time.

Kids are scared. Fear is a great motivator. The fear will get worse with every shooting and near shooting. If gun owners refuse to compromise and justify it with the 2A this generation will decide that the 2A is the root of the problem. There are a lot of them, enough to repeal an Amendment.

Politicians, countries and corporations have no morals, they have interests. If repealing the 2A is in their interest it will get done. A little compromise might be a good idea. Some short term pain for a long term gain.

saugeye-steve wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>cougareye wrote:</div>
And if anyone is paying attention today, this Parkland shooting has ignited a fire in our youth and everyone (media, politicians) are paying attention as these kids are our next generation of voters and consumers and they are speaking loudly.

Their enthusiasm will fade long before they make a difference and they will be back to eating Tide-pods in no time.

Not sure if this comment was to be framed in sarcasm or is a misguided humor attempt?
Either way, perhaps you never had kids Steve? Or if so…they were a disappointment for you? To disregard or dismiss our next generation is foolish at best. Most are not worthless unemployable drug addicts.

I cannot be more proud of my 2 grown daughters and their conservative/Christian, positive/productive contributions to today’s society.

Bernard Campos wrote:

Politicians, countries and corporations have no morals, they have interests. If repealing the 2A is in their interest it will get done. A little compromise might be a good idea. Some short term pain for a long term gain.

Compromise…..as an avid hunter and gun owner, this is where I believe we need to go. Real compromise too, I’d gladly give up the rights to AR’s, high capacity clips, and bump stocks to be able to own my guns and continue to use them responsibly. But more importantly to show this generation we’re on their side. Otherwise we’ll get brushed aside and run over.

ET

cougareye wrote:

But more importantly to show this generation we’re on their side. Otherwise we’ll get brushed aside and run over.

ET

Hilarious-Simply hilarious

Hateful liberal, anti-American drool on my favorite fishing forum……yes, anti-constitution is anti-American!…. For all you goofs that blame guns for all our problems, be careful that all this effort to take away our 2nd amendment doesn’t get turned towards the 1st amendment next. I think these hateful anti-gun folks are the same ones who are never happy & always squeaking about something! The liberals are trying to infuse cash and flat out silliness for ideals, to this useless group of young kids because liberals are desperate. Don’t like America, move! Don’t crap it up for the rest of us tho before you go. There are more of us here, that are too busy working for a living to protest, but when it comes time to vote out some nonsense, we do. We did, & we will continue.