St. Louis County Police Chief Wants to Arm School Officials With Guns
In the wake of the Newtown, CT school massacre, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch will visit schools this week to discuss increasing security, including putting guns in elementary schools.
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St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch and police officers will begin visiting St. Louis County schools Monday morning, according to KMOV.
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Fitch said he's received numerous calls from area schools concerned about security since Friday's mass shooting in a Newtown, CT elementary school.
Fitch acknowledges that most high schools and some middle schools, including those in West County, have armed school resource officers.
However, elementary schools are not normally protected by officers. Fitch wants to see armed resource officers or armed school officials in those schools, according to KSDK.
He points out that Sandy Hook Elementary School conducted threat drills and locked its doors once class started, but that did not stop suspected shooter Adam Lanza from gunning down 20 children and six women Friday.
St. Louis area schools also lock their doors when class starts and conduct threat drills. However, this week, Fitch plans to meet with school officials throughout the county to discuss increasing security at schools even more.
His proposal includes putting guns in the schools, particularly the elementary schools. He said the weapons would remain locked up with trained staff members having access to them in an emergency.
What do you think about Chief Fitch's proposal? Do you have a better suggestion? Post your thoughts in the comments below.
Elizabeth O'Fallon
8:36 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
It's sad to think we've gotten to a point where this might become a necessity, but I think this is an excellent idea. I'm sure many will disagree. If officials have no way to "fight back" how will they keep our kids safe? I have several policemen in my family, and I know from their experience that the bad guys have guns, and will get them any means possible. Shouldn't the "good guys" have them too?
Donna D
8:10 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
Who is going to have a gun and do you plan on them caring it around all day-- of course no chance of an accident with said gun. Where will the gun be kept if not on said person , so many questions and no real answers. I think it is a dumb idea , now having an officer in the building well that is a trained person but will he or she be at the right door , all schools have many and who is to say they will be in the right place. NO MORE GUNS PLEASE!!!!!
Melissa Campbell
8:57 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
I think these wack jobs pick places that are easy targets. Perhaps if they were not such an easy target those who are mentally unstable would not try this at schools. Then again if they are unstable would that really matter to them or would it be more of a challenge.......
I think the media should not post pictures and glorify these crazy individuals and their horrible acts. I don't feel their is an easy solution and unless everyone including police, military, CIA ect. don't have tanks, drones, guns, knifes ect....then their will always be a threat to ones safety. We live in a society were moral values and the respect for life are fading......to many parents not parenting they just let their kinds run wild......to many influences like bad video games, and t.v. The problem is it's more than just one problem......In the end though those that can protect themselves are more likely to be safer from those that would want to do them harm.
julienne
11:50 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Best said Melissa Campbell. It's sad and very true. If parents took a more active approach in their child's lives and God wasn't kicked out of schools maybe children without a parent teaching them right from wrong would understand there are better things in this world besides material things and trying to find belonging else where. The true meaning of family and raising kids as a community has been lost. I'm in total agreement with allowing school staff to be armed. Protect our children from these psychos...
pamela clark
5:56 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
pamela r clark
This action has been overdue-Good Job Chief Fitch
What needs to be done-----
Special School District needs to re-establish themselves; back to their own buildings and out of the Public Schools. When this happens-the system will turn around with highly educated individuals.
Donna D
8:15 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
The students in Special District are children from our district , where do you think they came from Mars? They are our kids and have every right to be in our schools, ck out the schools in St Charles -- they do not have Special District that is only in St Louis County. You need to educate yourself as to who the students really are.
Wayne donnelly
8:06 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
You have to be serious. Guns in Schools? where do you keep them? Lock them up? What good is that? Have the pistol packing teacher roam the halls? With the kids we have in school now you have tokeep ths kids away from the gun. This is all CRAZY. This is the job or PROFESSIONAL police offers or security guards. Lets get serious.
Joel Kabak
1:15 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Agreed
Mark Behlmann
9:30 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
As a child I was fortunate, I had a mother and father who were supportive but more importantly involved with my upbringing. As a young boy I was taught how to handle a gun, hunt, and appreciate nature. I was taught by my father. Today I have many purchased and registered guns. I have attended certified weapon training classes and hold two CCW licenses. I believe wholeheartedly that it is our right to bear arms to protect ourselves and family. Also it should be our right to be TRAINED to carry a weapon for self protection.
But as a school board member, educators are just that, educators, not armed guardians. Guns in school regardless of a administrators training is NOT a good idea. I believe this was a knee jerk reaction by the chief of police. Accidents do happen. Last year 2 SRO’s in Hazelwood high school accidentally discharged a pistol. Fortunately no one was injured. Highly trained people do unfortunately have accidents. Guns in schools are not the answer.
Joel Kabak
1:15 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Agreed
Elizabeth O'Fallon
9:36 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
3 ideas from a former Navy Seal. http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/lessons-from-newtown-ct-school-shooting-3-ways-to-protect-your-children/
Joel Kabak
1:13 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I think this is a bad idea. What if to say a scenario, a child comes to school after an argument with his/her parent, decides that he/she is very angry. Takes a gun to school with them. Actively threatens the custodian of said "on school weapons". Then what? The weapon custodian has to open the "arsenal" closet? For a disgruntled child? Mass chaos again. I truly believe in our rights to carry and protect. However, I feel that putting guns in schools is just asking for potential trouble. An armed SRO in EVERY school is a much better idea and use of resources.
Thank you,