Safe Schools Are A Priority For Everyone
In March, marches were held nationwide advocating for better safety in our nation’s schools. On the surface this looks like a worthwhile cause and we should applaud students taking an active role in their schools and communities. Unfortunately, what many of us who have a better understanding of politics and history see are individuals and groups behind the scenes using these young people to advance an agenda– gun control.
We all want safe schools and communities. As a citizen of this great nation, and as a husband and father, I strongly advocate for safe schools. Who wouldn’t? We love our children and grandchildren.
It is obvious these marches were professionally organized and funded. Contrary to what many in the media want us to believe, they were not simply students who organized a march for school safety.
None of us are assured complete and total safety all of the time. However, we can do things that will greatly increase the safety for our children at school and in other aspects of their lives as well.
Would anyone turn down a program that taught safety in our schools? If we developed a free program with a mission to protect children, we should all be on board. How about one that looks at each school individually and addresses areas of safety, including infrastructure, technology, personnel, training and policy development? Could we get support for an effort to engage our communities and empower leaders to make our schools more secure? Would parents, administrators, elected officials and law enforcement be open to a program that offers tools and resources the school can utilize at their own discretion to make them more secure?
If the answer is yes, then we have that available. It is the NRA’s School Shield program.
Every school administrator in the country is doing their school a disservice if they do not take advantage of this program.
If students, teachers, school officials, parents and others truly wanted safety in our schools, they would join and support the efforts of the NRA. From gun safety to crime prevention, there are programs available to students and adults to help them in their lives. For young students, the Eddie Eagle program. For older students and adults, the Refuse To Be A Victim program class teaches how to be aware of surroundings and makes a person less likely to become a crime victim.
Recently Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018, legislation that funds school security improvements and invests in early intervention and prevention programs to stop school violence before it happens.
The legislation authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to train students, personnel and law enforcement to identify signs of violence and then intervene. In addition to prevention efforts, the legislation funds technology and equipment to improve school security. This includes the development of anonymous reporting systems and other improvements. The legislation also provides funds for school threat assessments and crisis intervention teams to help schools investigate threats before tragedy strikes. With bipartisan support in the Senate, this is one we should all track, and it will be interesting to see how it develops.
When I was the Executive Director of the Texas State Rifle Association our staff developed a slogan, “Safety Through Education Not Legislation.” They promoted that education was the best form of safety and passing another “feel-good” law that hinders the law-abiding citizen was not the answer. That idea still holds true today.
As law abiding gun owners who appreciate our rights and the shooting sports, we need to make an effort to know the issues and listen to what the students are saying, then we need to inform them of real working solutions and options. What I hear them saying is that they want to feel safe and secure in school. Unfortunately, they are being coached by those with a far different agenda. This is where we need to step up and offer real working solutions. One step is to take a youth to a range and teach them about real firearm safety and responsibility. RDG
For more information on the National School Shield program, click here
