The recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, has once again thrust the gun control issue into the forefront. The shooter, identified as Nikolas Cruz, allegedly used a semi-automatic rifle to kill 17 individuals, including a coach, classmates, athletic director and a teacher. Another 14 other victims were wounded during the process.
Of course, after any such tragedy, those on the left politically take aim at the Second Amendment. There are demands for justice from kids as well as politicians and everyone in between. In their view, the logical answer to such tragedy is to take away guns. In their minds, no guns equal no mass shootings. Unfortunately, since criminals don’t obey the law very well and are the ones carrying out such atrocities, creating more restrictions on legitimate gun ownership does nothing more than affect the good guy’s ability to protect innocent victims.
Other groups feel resource officers are the answer to the issue and are okay with them being placed in schools. They stop short of wanting to arm teachers, though. The problem with only arming select resource officers is the fact that only one or two officers are likely unable to adequately protect a large group of people in a mass shooting scenario. This particular school shooting is a textbook example of this point.
According to an NY Daily News, there was an armed security guard present at the school who never got the chance to approach or stop the shooter. This fact was confirmed by Broward County Sheriff Scott Isreal. The reason behind this is unknown, but it was probably a result of many factors, one of which was the massive size of the school. Though having armed resource officers is a step towards safety in schools, it alone isn’t enough.
According to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the only real comprehensive solution is to arm faculty and staff, in addition to resource officers.
“I think the only long-term solution, depending on the size of the school, is a minimum of six to eight teachers and administrators who are trained in the use of firearms and have concealed carry permits and are prepared to defend the kids,” he said during an interview on Fox News.
Gingrich went on to explain why gun free zones or gun confiscation is not the solution, no matter how much the left claims otherwise.
“Every school in the country is supposed to be a gun-free zone,” he added. “If gun control worked, how come it didn’t work? We have to be realistic. We are not going to confiscate guns on a scale to make us a disarmed country.”
In conclusion, no child, or adult for that matter, should become a murder victim while trying to get or provide an education. However, that is exactly what has happened at this school in Florida and many others. Unfortunately, until more guns, not less, are placed in well-trained hands to stand between those who wish to do harm and their innocent victims, similar happenings are likely to occur again and again.
~ Firearm Daily
