The Theory of Protection

The theory of a gun being an object that can help protect someone from imminent danger has been around since the invention of the aforementioned device. In this day and age, that theory is still around but now guns are used for other things such as hunting/killing animals and unfortunately, killing people. Years after deadly school massacres in the USA, such as the shootings at Columbine High and Sandy Hook Elementary, many of our nation’s schools have utilized ways to help protect themselves from potential similar situations. For example, the NYCDOE (New York City Department Of Education) has installed metal detectors, banned certain objects and electronic devices from their schools (such as knives and cell phones) and implemented procedures such as soft and hard lockdown drills. Although these implementations have proven to be beneficial, NYC public schools are still considered a “soft-target”; one that is an unarmed and undefended gun free zone. With that said, all NYCDOE schools should be given the opportunity to have armed school security guards as an extra step closer to protecting the children of our generation.

An important reason as to why we should arm our school security guards is that we will no longer be a soft target thus causing the potential shooter to move towards an easier, unarmed target. If one were to put themselves into the mind of a shooter, they will understand that the shooter only wants to go the easy way. They do not want to worry about someone attacking them when their main goal is to attack; their philosophy is to attack, not to be attacked. According to an article titled, ‘Schools Should Have Armed Security Guards’, the author Maury Jones states “...Or, we can de facto deputize millions of good guys/gals by allowing them to carry concealed weapons everywhere. That would be millions of good guys out there with a gun to stop the bad guy with a gun. There would be a far greater chance of stopping mass shootings.” This idea is one that others need to understand. A cop shouldn’t be the only one who is able to disarm the shooter and end a massacre because nine times out of ten, it may be too late. An armed security guard might not be able to stop the shooter from triggering their first bullet but they would be able to prevent any further bullets harming anyone; maybe even disarm their shooter.”

With armed school security, our nation’s public schools will be one step closer to protecting our generation’s children instead of being three steps behind. It is widely known that people with a higher social status have the best security as possible. They’re strongly protected to the highest extent to avoid the incident of a shooting or physical attack from an outsider. Our children may not be A-List celebrities, international pop stars, or presidents of countries but at the end of the day, they deserve the best security as possible. These children are going to grow up and become adults in this world; inevitably making a change, so if we know that they’re going to become wonderful, diverse additions to our society, why aren’t we making it our best interest to protect them at all costs?

The idea of giving school security guards guns to protect the innocent is one that is controversial. Although it sounds like a beneficial to the ears in layman’s terms, there are a vast amount of people who disagree with the proposal. People who are against arming schools argue that with armed security the atmosphere of the educational facility may become tense and nerve-wracking as well as security possibly abusing their power with loaded weapons. With guns in schools, it inevitably creates a possible scenario in which a given guard with access to the loaded firearm may threaten a student with the weapon as an attempt to scare them, a guard may lose their mental ability to control themselves with the gun or maybe even a student may try to attack the guard as a way to retrieve the gun and use it in their own dangerous way. However, these situations can be avoided with the use of proper training, background checks, and safety protocols put into place.

Guns do not kill people; people kill people. Although the device is use to assassinate, it can be used as way to protect. Within the past decade, in the light of several school massacres such as the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, Columbine High shooting, Virginia Tech shooting, schools have created ways to protect themselves from similar situations. Most of them have implemented procedures such as soft and/or lock down drills, included metal detectors in the building and some have even gone as far as to training the kids how to protect themselves from the shooter by attacking them; whether it is to throw chairs, desks, or maybe even use force. The idea of having armed school security is one that has come up frequently when talking about protecting our generation’s kids. The presence of a gun in schools may seem unorthodox but would you rather have your child be six feet above or six feet under?

Bibliography:

Jones, M. (2013, January 5). Schools should have armed security guards. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://trib.com/opinion/columns/schools-should-have-armed-security-guards/article_d4007023-183e-5a98-a3ee-1d87d625344f.html