School gun idea debated (Columbia, MO)

[jpak]

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/may/10/school-gun-idea-debated/

The Columbia Board of Education gave initial approval last night to a policy that would allow a district employee to carry a firearm on school grounds, but one board member adamantly disagreed with the decision.

<snip>

The policy revision would cost the district $16,000, mostly for insurance purposes.

Next year, Columbia Public Schools will lose two more school resource officers and will have four SROs covering nine secondary schools. Superintendent Chris Belcher said he’d like to have “another set of boots on the ground” to balance the situation, but board member Jim Whitt disagreed.

“Sending the message to our kids that we’re armed ... is the wrong message to send to our youth,” he said.

<more>

[spin]

1. NO! NO! NO! We should never give the kids a message that some good people are armed ...

We need to make sure that they understand that only dishonest people, mentally disturbed people and Tea Baggers own guns.

It would be far better to have a school massacre than to allow a district employee to carry a firearm.

:sarcasm:

[PavePusher]

2. "School Resource Officer"

Orwellian as all hell, eh? What is wrong with the term "Security Guard"? And what would be wrong with Security Guards actually armed and able to do their jobs?

Four guards for 9 schools? This does not seem... effective, eh?