General Discussion

Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

82. School shootings are incredibly rare

Mon Dec 17, 2012, 01:28 AM

Dec 2012

...and contrary to what some might think they aren't on the rise. Putting an armed guard(s) at every school would be an enormous expense and mass murder in schools isn't even a blip on the radar when it comes to the most likely causes of death among children. I would venture to guess you could spend 1/10th of the money you are suggesting on suicide prevention and save more than 100 times the number of children if saving children's' lives was the goal. There are some poor areas in the US where infant mortality rivals many 3rd world countries. I'd venture to guess you could spend far less there and save far more.

Putting an armed guard(s) at schools is no guarantee of safety either. Many school mass shootings are perpetrated by students who would already have access to the school. Someone who is not authorized to be there could also take out the guard first, which defeats that security measure.

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Why is school security taken so lightly? [View all] Lurks Often Dec 2012 OP

The link http://www.johnstons...m/wrjp39ch.html doesn't work. n/t PoliticAverse Dec 2012 #1

I can't get your link to work, but I will say that Ron Green Dec 2012 #2

Another stupid straw man argument. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #3

Yawn. I can see you are unable to discuss this rationally n/t Lurks Often Dec 2012 #7

It isn't where I live. earthside Dec 2012 #4

Kids shouldn't have to go to a prison like fortress to learn. boston bean Dec 2012 #5

Then extending that logic Lurks Often Dec 2012 #8

I agree, they shouldn't, but in light of the school shootings zen_bohemian Dec 2012 #11

At least they will come home krawhitham Dec 2012 #91

It's not taken lightly at all. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #6

The events in Newtown, CT Lurks Often Dec 2012 #9

A lunatic broke into the school. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #12

I disagree Lurks Often Dec 2012 #25

We don't have the number of first responders necessary to be in every school. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #29

I can see we won't agree Lurks Often Dec 2012 #36

what tax increase is going to fund this? elehhhhna Dec 2012 #40

I actually agree, campus police presence could be a plus zen_bohemian Dec 2012 #42

You've not seen a school budget lately have you. progressoid Dec 2012 #56

We'll need to find the money somewhere Lurks Often Dec 2012 #58

I think it's actually more than 100,000 public schools NewJeffCT Dec 2012 #66

Start by cutting foreign aid Lurks Often Dec 2012 #83

School shootings are incredibly rare Major Nikon Dec 2012 #82

I tend to agree with virtually Lurks Often Dec 2012 #84

At my kid's school krawhitham Dec 2012 #92

The principal had just installed a new security system. She wasn't taking it lightly. n/t pnwmom Dec 2012 #10

Not only that, the new security system was considered the gold standard lob1 Dec 2012 #28

Then the "gold standard" needs to be changed. JohLast Dec 2012 #70

We have guards at banks, but not most schools tawadi Dec 2012 #13

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ vs our children proud2BlibKansan Dec 2012 #30

+1 HiPointDem Dec 2012 #51

It's not what WE value more. TheMadMonk Dec 2012 #69

There are no guards at the banks I go to. Chemisse Dec 2012 #32

Actually most banks no longer have guards. Throckmorton Dec 2012 #55

Most guards are private security NewJeffCT Dec 2012 #67

Hope you didn't know any of the vicitms/families personally since you're from CT. eom tawadi Dec 2012 #72

most schools don't even have enough money NewJeffCT Dec 2012 #73

Were you responding to my post above? tawadi Dec 2012 #99

Security varies. Igel Dec 2012 #14

School security is generally taken very seriously. Posteritatis Dec 2012 #15

What are you talking about? The killer somehow got PAST security. WinkyDink Dec 2012 #16

The only security was some locked doors Lurks Often Dec 2012 #20

I'm sure we could turn our schools into armed fortresses. sufrommich Dec 2012 #17

Is it? etherealtruth Dec 2012 #18

Hey Lurks Often - more guns are not the answer. Avalux Dec 2012 #19

You're right you are a dreamer Lurks Often Dec 2012 #21

"The human race" certainly has evolved far enough to not need armed guards in schools muriel_volestrangler Dec 2012 #46

tell that to the Israel or Afghanistan or Iraq n/t Lurks Often Dec 2012 #59

Oh good. progressoid Dec 2012 #77

In general no we shouldn't Lurks Often Dec 2012 #85

also need armed sec at : church, mall, theatre, elehhhhna Dec 2012 #22

See my post#36 n/t Lurks Often Dec 2012 #38

It's only taken lightly when the school is in nice neighborhoods. n/t Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #23

That is true. ananda Dec 2012 #26

It probably varies from state to state, Lurks Often Dec 2012 #65

I reject the premise cthulu2016 Dec 2012 #24

Because we shouldn't have to defend schools like military bases. Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #27

I don't see your idea as especially realistic Lurks Often Dec 2012 #60

Yeah why cure the disease when we can put a bandaid on it? Warren Stupidity Dec 2012 #62

Because curing the disease Lurks Often Dec 2012 #86

We have armed guards protecting our money and riches. Our children are far more valuable. rDigital Dec 2012 #31

Why was port security so lax before 9/11? Rex Dec 2012 #33

Possibly because so many peeople at the upper levels (who make decisions) SoCalDem Dec 2012 #34

And if the next mass murder is in a playground, or on a beach, Nye Bevan Dec 2012 #35

Because school security isn't the problem, lack of gun regulation is. countryjake Dec 2012 #37

People are at risk everyday, everywhere in the United States Lurks Often Dec 2012 #39

And placing a gazillion more guns in each of our schools is ass-backward. countryjake Dec 2012 #41

The most dangerous place for a child to be is in his or her own home duffyduff Dec 2012 #43

Tell that to the parents in Newtown Berserker Dec 2012 #50

Sucks to be you then Lurks Often Dec 2012 #68

Better hurry up with your plan... countryjake Dec 2012 #71

[sigh] Sometimes I just cringe ...... oldhippie Dec 2012 #78

Explain please? countryjake Dec 2012 #79

Really? Is it that hard? oldhippie Dec 2012 #87

So sorry that the semantics of what I posted... countryjake Dec 2012 #96

Semantics had nothing to do with my comment on your post ... oldhippie Dec 2012 #97

I couldn't show you, since you've expressed no pertinent opinion here... countryjake Dec 2012 #98

So what is your solution? Earth_First Dec 2012 #44

Yup Berserker Dec 2012 #48

So what is yours? Lurks Often Dec 2012 #63

We don't want, and should not have, to send our children to prison every day. Dems to Win Dec 2012 #45

Politicians have armed guards Berserker Dec 2012 #47

it's not taken likely, but when schools become armed fortresses, its often Liberal_in_LA Dec 2012 #49

School security isn't the problem. Guns and irresponsible gun owners are the problem. kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #52

Another person who has no useful or Lurks Often Dec 2012 #88

when i went to school, we never thought of even needing it... dionysus Dec 2012 #53

Schools should not be like prisons Marrah_G Dec 2012 #54

because we don't want to pay for it. Norquist ensures that we don't have *that* conversation. salin Dec 2012 #57

Because children are sacred. n/t Control-Z Dec 2012 #61

One armed guard & one metal detector is not a deterrent Generic Brad Dec 2012 #64

Honestly? It's because these incidents are so rare. Lightbulb_on Dec 2012 #74

We spend an unbelievable amount of money on security to protect ourselves against armed JDPriestly Dec 2012 #75

"I don't know much about guns. Neither do a lot of DUers" Lurks Often Dec 2012 #95

Why do you want to make fortresses of schools rather than address the real problem? Agnosticsherbet Dec 2012 #76

It's not. Schools have been "on guard" for many years now. Hekate Dec 2012 #80

I believe it varies by district. City Lights Dec 2012 #81

It ends up unfortunatly being a demographic issue. Remmah2 Dec 2012 #90

My daughter just called Skidmore Dec 2012 #89

Because it costs money. Iggo Dec 2012 #93

Nearly 100% of unguarded money would be stolen. Silent3 Dec 2012 #94