US National Rifle Association urging politicians to have armed guards in every school.

[Pan]

Today in a news conference. Lots has been said in the time since Connecticut, but this surely raises the discussion to a new level, given how powerful the NRA are in US politics.

And if anyone needs reminding how ingrained gun ownership is in the USA, here is an ad from Walmart (Asda's company) for that last minute little stocking filler

To my Brit head this is lunacy of the highest order. Anyone differ?

[hackmum]

With you all the way. Lunacy or idiocy? Hard to tell.

[Pan]

I know. Would be good though to hear from anyone, especially US citizens, who support the NRA and think this is a Good Thing. And what would the logic be. Interested.

[tribpot]

Surely the only reason a civilian would need to own an automatic weapon is fear of other civilians who own automatic weapons? I can accept that some people - ranchers, hunters - will want to use rifles. I can see no legitimate use for handguns except again for protection against other people with handguns. But a rifle that can do so much damage in such a short space of time, and with virtually no skill on the part of the shooter has no legitimate civilian purpose.

The NRA has an opportunity to present a clear message that its members are hunters and ranchers and shooting hobbyists/sports people. It has chosen instead (not in the least surprisingly) to align with a position that ultimately leads to everyone living in bulletproof cages.

[Pan]

When this gets raised (after some dreadful massacre) I'd also see no need at all for anyone civi to possess a gun of any type in a town or a city, outside of a sports venue for such things. And good point about hand guns only being relevant to defend against other hand gun users.
obv the history and landscape in the US is different to the UK, but the "frontier" argument surely went at the beginning of the last century, at least?

[Pan]

But armed guards in every school anyone?

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

It's like The End of Days

They are insane.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

That's just silly. Surely all the children should be given guns in order to protect themselves...

[Pan]

Just reading of another shooting in Penn. 4 dead and officers wounded.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

"A bad guy with a gun can only be stopped by a good guy with a gun."

That statement would almost be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

[VintageNancy]

I live in the US (British expat) & I think it is total lunacy. What are they thinking? I can't understand it at all.

Frankly I can't imagine sending my DD to school here. Plus where do you stop? Armed police at schools so what about day cares?

Seriously find it all terrifying. My fear not helped by a recent drive-by shooting a on a freeway I use all the time.

[VitoCorleone]

For gods sake

[difficultpickle]

I listened to some of this on the radio today. They had an interview with one of the participants of Watch Dogs. The NRA spokesman made it out as if this was some viligante group already patrolling schools. In fact it stands for Watch Dads Of Grade (or Great) Students. They encourage dads to take one day off a year and go in to help out at their dcs school. That help could be reading etc and all it means is there is an extra adult in school. The Watch Dogs spokesman was horrified at how his organisation had been hijacked by the NRA and was keen to distance, indeed saying that they would be totally opposed to armed guards in schools.

Terrifying how quickly the NRA has come up with this plan but not unexpected. Unfortunately there will be plenty of parts of the US where people will think this is a completely reasonable proposal.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've read that there was an armed guard at Columbine.

[difficultpickle]

From what I've read the security guard at Columbine was off sick that day. Still the perpetrators wouldn't have known that in advance and it didn't stop them.

[bunchamunchycrunchycarrots]

News earlier summed it up for me - they blame everyone else for this and take no responsibility whatsoever. Media, video games, the 'mentally ill'. They also want a register for the 'mentally ill'. It's truly scary just how deluded they are over this.

[Pixel]

Well that'll make going to school a pleasant experience won't it, being constantly reminded that there could be a shoot out at any moment. How exactly would having armed guards help anyway? What if it was a student running amok with his dad's gun (as has happened before) surely the guards would let him in as they had every other day for goodness knows how many years? They wouldn't know it was his day to flip.
The report I saw yesterday (can't remember where) said that they wanted to have the teachers armed so that they could protect their classes. Would learning to shoot to kill be a requirement for teacher training? I feel sorry for all those nice young girls who grew up wanting to be kindergarten teachers, I don't suppose it's really what they had in mind.
Sadly I don't think anything is going to change and these horrors will carry on happening because too many americans will never admit that everyone having the right to carry handguns is a bad idea.

[hugoagogo]

It's such a childish argument-good and bad. I despair.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

The NRA are like a satire of themselves at this point. I think it's what true madness looks like.

[MsHighwater]

All this would do would be to ensure that the nutter intent on a shooting spree doesn't even have to go to the trouble and expense of getting his own gun before going to the school. Scary.

[Pan]

Am also intrigued as to how having an armed guard would be effective. If I was intent on murderous acts in a school, I'd shoot the guard first. He/she won't be expecting it and thus be not'' arms-drawn". Then off I go.

Good/bad. Yep, it would be funny IF these people didn't have massive political influence.

I'd also think that the vast majority of US citizens think all other countries have gun control in the way they do. Foreign news reporting is miniscule, as I keep hearing, so they would presume that they are consistent with the rest of the world, when they are markedly not.

[Tamoo]

Gosh, they mentioned the idea of arming teachers on the day it happened, I remember hearing it on the news with my dad and we both burst out laughing (inappropriate I know, but we were laughing in disbelief).

How is that meant to work in practice? Do you arm every teacher in the school? Is the willingness to carry a firearm going to be a prerequisite for getting a teaching qualification? Would the teacher wear a gun all the time in a holster? Would that be considered safe? I think as a parent I think I'd be more worried about having a gun permanently in the classroom than I would about the risk of someone flipping and attempting a massacre.

[EauRougelyNight]

More guns? I would bet that gun manufacturers have a big influence on the NRA and the statements they make.

More guns and more guns and more guns until the whole country is wiping each other out :( I've loved every visit I've had to the US but I'm really glad I don't live there.

[TheCrackFox]

Why don't they go the whole hog and arm the children whilst they are at it?

The NRA are bunch of arseholes.

[AloeSailor]

Stupid dumbass fucks.

[Tamoo]

The thing about having armed guards is that it would be completely a matter of luck and circumstance about whether they helped in any given situation. If someone walks in to a school carrying a weapon that fires 50 - 100 rounds per minute there could be many lives lost before the guard manages to kill him. Even more if the guard is on the other side of the school/in the toilet/on his break. Or if he is the first one to get shot.

Also, since many of the perpetrators of these things are students at the school themselves, it's not as simple as just taking down a stranger who's trying to force his way in.