To accomplish that, demilitarized zones should be set up on the perimeters of every school and razor-wire fences erected. Furthermore a military checkpoint and road block should be established at the entrance to every school property, possibly manned by rotating National Guard units that would check every car and person entering the grounds for weapons and other ordinance. It’s not a fail-proof measure, as has been seen in Baghdad and Kabul, but it would stop most of the armed subjects who try to enter. An assault rifle of this kind would be easily detectable.
As for the students themselves, I propose the following: because we’re dealing with what is essentially a combat-grade weapon, the state legislature should budget funds immediately to provide every North Carolina school child with Kevlar bullet-proof flack jackets, and helmets. Furthermore, every child should undergo a rigorous psychological work-up at the start and end of each school year in order to detect disturbing signals and signs of possible, future dangerous behavior.
If we really love our children and want to protect them there should be no limit to the amount of money we’re willing to spend, nor should there be a limit to the measures we employ, in order to do that.
We only need to pause and think more seriously about what it will take to provide adequate protection for our children and grandchildren against these powerful, semi-automatic, large magazine rifles, and to enact laws that will do just that.
I wish there were simpler solutions. Does anyone have a good idea? Anyone?
From a military family, Joe Moran has lived and traveled in militarized zones in Central America and Pakistan. He has grandchildren in N.C. schools. His brother, a retired police officer, manages security for his township’s pubic schools.