The presence of armed guards has not prevented the tragedy of school massacres thus far, and while law enforcement officers can play other useful roles in a school setting, mandating even one officer per school would cost billions of dollars per year -- money that is desperately needed for basic educational needs and the more useful solution of counseling. The suggestion that teachers, school administrators, or "volunteers" should be armed is an invitation to more, not less, killing, and further degrades our national culture and our children's future.
Why is this important?
I am a university professor and have been in educational institutions since age 4. I am deeply troubled by the National Rifle Association's proposal to counter the ongoing cycle of gun violence in schools with yet more guns, particularly given the ruinous costs (both financial and psychological) of this approach.
