So I was scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook and I came across this meme featured above. Naturally I became quite curious about it and decided to do some research. My preliminary feelings on the matter were mostly of uncertainty. Now here are the results of what I have dug up.
In August of 2015 the School Board of Education for the state of Oklahoma approved of an "Armed School Employees" policy. However this comes as a year after the Okay Police Department was disbanded in December of 2014. For reasons tied to suspected corruption in certain police departments that were disbanded on the local level. So my best understanding is that the shrink in law enforcement had led to security concerns for student safety, which prompted the passing of this policy? Honestly I am trying my best to be fair with my understanding of it all. So if you live in Oklahoma and can shed some light on why certain police departments were closed? Please comment on this post.
Side Note
On December 6, 1999 Seth Trickey, 13 fired a semiautomatic pistol at least fifteen times outside of Fort Gibson Middle School, wounding five students. He surrendered to police without incident and was sentenced to serve more then five years behind bars. According to experts that testified on the boy's behalf "he was influenced by Columbine (April 20, 1999)". This shooting was also included in the Safe School Initiative study conducted jointly by the U.S Department of Education and Secret Service in 2000. It should also be noted that Seth was released from prison on March 30, 2005.
According to the Muskogee Phoenix there is currently only one employee that qualifies to carry a weapon on school grounds.
"For other employees to arm themselves, they must qualify with a Council on Law Enforcement Education Training certification or license; possess an Oklahoma Self Defense Act License; and be CLEET qualified with the firearm, according to the policy."
"For other employees to arm themselves, they must qualify with a Council on Law Enforcement Education Training certification or license; possess an Oklahoma Self Defense Act License; and be CLEET qualified with the firearm, according to the policy."
The Council on Law Enforcement Education Training Certification (CLEET) is more or less the same basic training that police officers undergo. The Oklahoma Self Defense Act is your standard concealed permit registry with mandatory training classes. The most notable part that I have found is the exclusion of domestic abusers and people convicted of or awaiting trial on assault and battery charges.
In all honesty it sounds like the school board is doing everything right with the best intentions as not defined solely by political gain to benefit lobbyists, but out of a genuine concern for the safety and welfare of their students.
However, my objections to their efforts stem from facts that everyone should understand and acknowledge:
#1.) This policy will not prevent an incident of targeted of school violence from occurring on school grounds. This will only lessen the number of potential deaths and injuries occurred in a single incident. For in order to activate the training that each certified staff member has received, a death or gun-related injury must occur on school grounds and within the vicinity of the specific staff member, in order to engage the subject and prevent further death or injury to others.
At Columbine it was noted that the sounds of gun shots and explosions became mixed with the normal peace and tranquility of that Tuesday morning. Teachers that were giving quizzes thought the sounds were an annoyance.While other students and staff were running for their lives. Thus the size of the campus among other factors should be taken into consideration.
At Columbine it was noted that the sounds of gun shots and explosions became mixed with the normal peace and tranquility of that Tuesday morning. Teachers that were giving quizzes thought the sounds were an annoyance.While other students and staff were running for their lives. Thus the size of the campus among other factors should be taken into consideration.
#2.)This policy is a new additional physical barrier that targeted school shooters can potentially shoot through and exploit with the potential for more injuries and deaths. All physical security have this common weakness. For example: On March 21, 2005 in Red Lake, Minnesota, Jeff Weise, 16, shot and killed the armed security guard posted at the metal detector at the entrance to his school and ended up killing five students and a teacher before committing suicide. The presence of a security guard, metal detectors and security cameras did not stop his attack. The potential for more victims must be acknowledged in the occurrence of a future incident.
Furthermore let us say that the student uses a knife instead of a gun in crowded hallway. As in the case of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville in Westmorland County, Pennsylvania. On April 9, 2014, sixteen-year-old, Alex Hribal stabbed twenty-four students and one security guard, resulting in five critical injuries and no deaths. In an incident of this sort, unless a teacher is armed with hollow-point bullets and has a clear opening on the subject there is an increase probability of injuring or killing other bystanders.
Information on the incident at Franklin Regional High School (Link below)
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/justice/pennsylvania-school-stabbing/index.html
3#.) Any additional requirements for training or gun specifications requires a lot of time and money.The average school year in the U.S begins in September after labor day (5th) and ends in mid-to-early June. This leaves the average teacher with two-to-three months to relax and prepare for the next school year. Now we are expecting them to dedicate time to train to respond to a phenomenon that has a significantly low probability. But at the same time can be argued "better safe, than sorry".
Furthermore let us say that the student uses a knife instead of a gun in crowded hallway. As in the case of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville in Westmorland County, Pennsylvania. On April 9, 2014, sixteen-year-old, Alex Hribal stabbed twenty-four students and one security guard, resulting in five critical injuries and no deaths. In an incident of this sort, unless a teacher is armed with hollow-point bullets and has a clear opening on the subject there is an increase probability of injuring or killing other bystanders.
Information on the incident at Franklin Regional High School (Link below)
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/justice/pennsylvania-school-stabbing/index.html
3#.) Any additional requirements for training or gun specifications requires a lot of time and money.The average school year in the U.S begins in September after labor day (5th) and ends in mid-to-early June. This leaves the average teacher with two-to-three months to relax and prepare for the next school year. Now we are expecting them to dedicate time to train to respond to a phenomenon that has a significantly low probability. But at the same time can be argued "better safe, than sorry".
#4.) This policy may complicate an incident where a school shooter is also using explosive devices.
History has shown incidents of targeted school violence have a contagion effect of inspiring other school shooters. There are many examples of shootings inspired by Columbine including:
Red Lake, Minnesota , Sandy Hook, Newtown, Connecticut, and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Though thankfully in each incident listed bombs were not used, however there is always a possibility of this re-occurring.
History has shown incidents of targeted school violence have a contagion effect of inspiring other school shooters. There are many examples of shootings inspired by Columbine including:
Red Lake, Minnesota , Sandy Hook, Newtown, Connecticut, and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Though thankfully in each incident listed bombs were not used, however there is always a possibility of this re-occurring.
Conclusion:
In the words of Dr. Peter Langman "By the time shooters are approaching the school with a gun, it is too late. Even if they can be kept from entering the building, they still can go on a rampage" (Why Kids Kill, Inside the Minds of School Shooters pg 206). This is only a solution to the issue of physical security. This is NOT a solution to prevent Targeted School Violence! The solution is out there inside the minds of the students, who are currently at the heart of every tragedy.
Sources
On this topic:
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/local_news/okay-schools-allow-staff-to-arm/article_f50e1d9c-cb08-11e5-8b7a-0b7a35fbd54c.html
On CLEET and Oklahoma Self Defense Act
https://www.ok.gov/cleet/Peace_Officers/Certification_Levels/
http://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/ref/collection/stgovpub/id/144096
On shooting at Fort Gibson in December of 1999
http://www.cnn.com/1999/US/12/06/okla.school.shooting.04/index.html?_s=PM:US
In the words of Dr. Peter Langman "By the time shooters are approaching the school with a gun, it is too late. Even if they can be kept from entering the building, they still can go on a rampage" (Why Kids Kill, Inside the Minds of School Shooters pg 206). This is only a solution to the issue of physical security. This is NOT a solution to prevent Targeted School Violence! The solution is out there inside the minds of the students, who are currently at the heart of every tragedy.
Sources
On this topic:
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/local_news/okay-schools-allow-staff-to-arm/article_f50e1d9c-cb08-11e5-8b7a-0b7a35fbd54c.html
On CLEET and Oklahoma Self Defense Act
https://www.ok.gov/cleet/Peace_Officers/Certification_Levels/
http://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/ref/collection/stgovpub/id/144096
On shooting at Fort Gibson in December of 1999
http://www.cnn.com/1999/US/12/06/okla.school.shooting.04/index.html?_s=PM:US
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