On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:30:32 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:26:44 -0500, z wrote:

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:43:52 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:17:08 -0500, z wrote:

I think teachers should just teach.

That's a unique idea. Maybe they should try it.


School board members should be taught that Texas has a border with
Mexico.

I think armed guards (professionals) will be better at protecting the students.

Possible but an incredibly expensive solution.

Not really if the schedules are well managed.

$100-$200K per school times how many schools in the US?

That is awful expensive for an armed guard.

You're going to need at least two (vacations, sick time, etc.) and
figure an employee costs about 2x direct compensation, particularly a
school employee.

Cops start in the mid 30s around here and the average is more like 50.

OK, double that, and add.

Even with insurance FICA and benefits it is not 100.
You also only have a 180 day year to cover.
We already have cops in middle schools and high schools.

The likely cost every bit of that. Overhead, and all.

I'm not saying that armed teachers can't protect students but I see potential
problems with this idea.

What problems? Teachers are citizens, too.

... and have a right to carry

Exactly the point. It costs nothing to allow them to do what they
have the right to do without doing anything.

I think it might work for the few teachers who do have a CCW but I
would still want them to have a lot more training.

I wouldn't argue too much. Give them all the training they want and
all the free range time they can use. Easy.

I hear about how disruptive "active shooter drills" would be for the
students but I was under my desk in atom bomb drills when I was in
school We turned out OK.

I remember the "duck and cover" drills, too, though they were coached
as tornado drills. It even made sense. ;-)

Schools have such "lock down" drills and fire drills now. I haven't
heard that it's traumatized little angels too much.

Having well thought out procedures, good communication and an armed
response might make these places a hard enough target, at least in
perception, that they are not that attractive for a shooter.

Your last phrase encapsulates the goal completely. Don't give away
any soft targets.