The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: Do you think all schools should have metal detectors and/or fencing around the property?
Talk about it….
Both a fence, metal detectors, camera’s, and a student resource officer.
Also deal with the mentally ill child or adult at first red flag.
I thought walls dont work.
I think metal detectors would be a deterrent at least. Nothing has been done to improve safety in schools in the east bay for over 40 years.
Didn’t we/MDUSD spend a gazillion on Columbine locks and cc-cameras everywhere, We spent the money…did we actually get the product? Can’t help but wonder.
Still not enough has been done.
Camera’s were installed but no one is watching them 24/7 or even consistently through out the day. During vandalism and smoking weed in the bathrooms It was easier to shut down the bathrooms then to monitor cameras during school hours.
New schools that have been built since 2000 are designed to help prevent active shootings but nothing is 100%.
Schools should have security that’s at least equivalent to that of courthouses, banks, and government buildings in general. We talk about how priceless our children are, then make them sitting ducks in an unguarded gun-free zone. It’s ridiculous.
Fencing around the property, particularly of grade/middle school would provide protection from the bums and junkies encroaching the area; only a matter of time before school space is invaded. How effective are metal detectors in the Oakland schools, or NY or Chicago schools? Is this in response to the horrific shooting in Texas? Not sure a fence, nor metal detectors, would have done a thing to protect those children in that circumstance.
Jeff, I agree with you. No matter what barriers are initiated, someone will always finds a way around it. or find a back way or entrance into a situation. Salvador Ramos just entered the school through a back door. The Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting a few years back, the shooter cut an opening into the cyclone fence (not sure this is accurate) on the back side of the festival.
The root cause of the problem is keeping the guns out of the hands of these troubled individuals. No other country has these things happening on the regular basis. It’s ridiculous.
Enhanced psychological vetting, Universal background checks.
It shouldn’t be so simple to obtain a weapon of war that can cause this much damage. Every mass shooting is done by an AR-15.
Enough talking it’s time for change. We need reforms similar to what Australia enacted in 1996.
Think of the children first and it’s simple.
Not sure where your stats are on what firearm is used in every mass shooting but your completely wrong, look it up. Yes recent shootings have been with AR’s but I believe it’s due to their current popularity and the fact you can buy a rifle much easier then a handgun.
I believe in the 2nd Amendment and own firearms but I know even in a more restrictive gun state like CA nuts still are getting guns by going out of state or moving here with their weapons.
As a responsible gun owner I have no issue in requiring what we require of Law Enforcement Officers before we give them guns. A background check, a mental health evaluation and some training. I don’t believe the avg. citizen needs the same amount of training as a LEO but at least a minimum amount.
I agree with your statement about enhanced psychological vetting and universal background checks. The extent of the background check needs to be very extensive up to and including checking with the applicants relatives, friends etc.
Australia banned guns completely, that would never happen based on what is needed to repeal a constitutional amendment.
Your comment about what is used in every mass shootings is incorrect, read the attached website, Enhanced psychological vetting, https://www.statista.com/statistics/476409/mass-shootings-in-the-us-by-weapon-types-used/
Trolling the Chuckie- agree 100%! Switzerland is another country with most households owning firearms and almost no issues at all from what I’ve read.
I enjoy shooting and like working on firearms, gave up hunting years ago. I understand the huge responsibility of gun ownership from proper storage to safe use. Years ago when the majority of long guns were basically bolt action hunting rifles or shotguns the ease of purchasing was as much an issue. The industry move to semi auto rifles should have prompted some changes in purchase procedures.
My statement about weapons used was a response to Four Corners statement about what type of firearm is used in mass shootings. Most mass shootings are done with handguns. I also believe if you look at the real facts on mass shootings they really started being common after 1980. Funny that in 1981 Reagan defunded mental health in the US.
In any case have the same people that vet Law Enforcement vet all first time gun purchases. Once someone is vetted they should be cleared for future purchases.
Just my opinion
@Trolling the Chuckie The Second Amendment no more grants the right to bear arms than the First Amendment grants the right of free speech. Both amendments are simply confirmations of the our God-given universal rights as human beings: the right to state your mind and the right to defend yourself and your family from evil.
I understand your outrage and anger, but I believe that people kill people, not firearms,. if you are literate at algebra , lets take the AR-15, for example. 1. first off I am hoping you are not a gun enthusiast because I’m willing to bet that you think the A.R. stands for assult rifle right?
NOPE ITS ArmaLite Rifle, and no, this rifle usually does not see combat over seas.,
Metal detectors are a good deterrent, and students might be hesitant about bringing weapons to school, but the detectors wouldn’t be much help in preventing another mass shooting. Anybody with the intent to shoot up a school could easily take out the security guard at the metal detector, then proceed to enter the building. A strong sturdy fence that cannot be cut such as wrought iron topped off with razor wire might help, but then the school will look like something out of East Berlin.
A fence with razor wire, metal detectors, double doors, finger print everyone that comes in the door, background check them, have a mental health profession perform an evaluation to every visitor, add watch tower(s) with armed guards. Harden the school like a prison. Have drones circling that can detect guns and bombs. Have bomb sniffing dogs roam the school, parking lot and perimeter. Move the parking lots away from the schools to prevent a situation like the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. What else?
DEFINETELY, BOTH NOW.
I don’t think turning schools into high security buildings will prevent the wackos from carrying out their evil plans. They will figure out a way to get it done or find someplace else. Movie theaters, parks, daycare centers, shopping malls, restaurants, water parks, parades, concerts etc. These things, unfortunately, in a lot of cases simply aren’t preventable unless someone stumbles across that persons plan and runs interference. Sad but true.
Some churches have armed guards and they have been effective.
Metal Detectors at schools are only “eye candy” to make people feel safer. There is no substantial proof or even enough data to show that detectors make schools safer. Kids, gang bangers, and crazy people know they can (and do) easily plant a weapon on a campus after hours, hop fences, or find unattended doors set ajar the day prior, or simply rush a monitored gate. Metal detectors are a wasted expense.
Articles are abundant Pro/Con…, but this article asked what I think, so there it is….
Why do they use metal detectors at airports and night clubs if they don’t work? I guess it’s more important to have the Parents safer at night clubs.
Putting up fences and metal detectors work. Making it a lot harder to get into a classroom where the teacher is armed and able to PROTECT their students. And all you I dont think that will work people, relying on mental health evaluations to stop the crazys, makes me want to suggest, the same for you. Gun free zones are and were the stupidest ideal. Might as well send your kids out with bull eyes on their backs. I want my Children’s teacher to have a fighting chance in protecting my children. I just love my children that much.
It will easily make schools look like prisons. First a wall would have to be electrified or have barb wire and also be tall enough.
If you have armed guards they would have to be willing to get into a gun battle with a well armed degenerate. Unlike went on in Uvalde.
Raising the age to 21 to purchase a weapon may help but will only slow down someone sick enough to kill children.
I am afraid we have allowed a sick culture to take over our country. One where we accuse half the country of being racist terrorist. Where men can pose as women to compete against women. Where our border is open to cartels to peddle deadly drugs. To where criminals commit crimes, get caught, and are free to leave jail hours later. Where nothing is done to stop a daily slaughter in our cities. Where rioters can burn down cities and the press says they are not violent and no one is arrested. The list goes on but maybe you get the idea or maybe not.
Well said, Ricardo
+100
I couldn’t live with myself if I had the means to end the threat and did nothing!
I can hardly believe the cops on the scene could hold each other back!
Why did they become cops if they were unwilling to shoot it out with a baby killer?
I thought Texans were tough…. I guess not.
Well Dr. J…
Maybe the Yellow Rose is actually a Yellow Stripe of Texas?????
Doc I think there were cops willing to go in but the local chief stopped them. He even held up the border patrol for a bit. He will be fired there is no doubt. Maybe a few who lied to the governor will be fired also. When they heard gunshots coming from the room and did nothing it is beyond beyond. I just can’t get over someone being so sick as to kill those children without someone knowing his wasn’t in his right mind before this happened.. How can your mind get that bad? Maybe he was drugged up.
Facebook, Twitter, and Google should be happy to fund these security measures as they might have a shared responsibility and are interested in staying in business.
Parents understand.
It’s pretty sad that this subject even has to be discussed.
It’s not like shooters in these situations sneak their guns onto the premises, everyone who saw the shooter in Uvalde knew what was happening.
And not every school is set up where it would even be possible to lock doors in this way (I am assuming at least some readers here went to College Park High School).
Limiting access to the weaponry seems more effective than metal detectors.
Literally neither of these would change the outcome of nearly every school shooter who walks in shooting since that’s what this is referring to. All a metal detector does is beeps, if people think it’s gonna stop anything from happening they’re wrong. It’s not like movies and tv where a kid sneaks a gun into his backpack. These killers get out their car, walk up to the entrance and start shooting unfortunately
Yeah, let argue about open doors, mental health, private security, teachers carrying guns, fences, etc. Remember the Texas gov. removed all restrictions on gun purchases in Texas, and now he blames mental health, not his policies for the tragic result. More equipment won’t solve anything, Uvalde’s swat team with their fancy military vehicles were ineffective against an 18 yo shooter.
At a bare minimum all sales by a dealer (like in the Uvalde murder’s case), no matter the state, must go through a background check. What restrictions were lifted that would have mattered in this case?
It’s a joke! Texas AG Paxton, Donald Drumpf, and all the other ultra far right morons of the GOP are saying the way to protect schools is to arm the teachers. Do these pinheads really believe this or are they just unbelievable shills for gun manufacturers? None of this debate is about the 2nd Amendment. Which of these mass killers belonged to a well regulated militia? Not a one! I’m a registered Republican, a former hunter (too old for the effort required), a Vietnam veteran, and a gun owner. I know this is just about the industry selling more guns. Fear is a great motivator and that’s why nothing gets done. . It’s just like the big tobacco paying politicians to support their industry despite knowing their product was sickening and killing millions. The current leaders of my party are greedy, soulless swine who will burn in hell for their sins. Citizens can retain ownership of their firearms with additional refinements of the regulations the Constitution demands.
yes and yes, and don’t prop open a door that should be locked so the teacher can go get their phone that they forgot … like in Twxas
In the MDUSD, there are special locks on the classroom doors. I was a substitute teacher for years, always kept the classroom door locked and would not allow the students to answer knocks. I was a stewardess with emergency trading and terrorist threats in my background. I took that experience to the classroom. One of the failures in TX was a door propped open that allowed the shooter access. I hope my former students or teachers who balked at my locked door policy rethink their complaints to me
All the newer classrooms in MDUSD have big windows on the doors that can be broken out and someone can reach inside and unlock the door. Poor planning. How many people have big windows on their front doors?
Lets talk about how the shooter was stopped. He was stopped by someone with a gun. Our politicians have armed guards are celebs have armed guards but our children they are in gun free zones.
No rational person wakes up one day and decides to go postal. It is a long term systematic process of schools not getting involved when trouble begins to brew and ignoring red flags.
Other school districts have implemented programs but MDUSD refuses to do so and continues to rely on overworked teachers to be counselors and 1st line of defense.
A MDUSD board member benefits with such program at their school outside MDUSD where bullying, cyberbullying and other behaviors are reported, given proper resources followed up and escalated to county health immediately when reported.
It is sad that in today’s schools thousands of students are bullied, getting concussions from fights or having to seek medical help and the victims still have to sit in the same classrooms as their assailants.Most of this could be dealt with so much sooner but MDUSD shares nothing about the number of these cases at each school with parents or stakeholders.
Use same process as DMV. Pass a written exam and test of using weapons. If you sell to another person you have to submit a form telling who now owns the gun. Register in database and require insurance. If you abuse you lose license to carry.
No guns needed –
https://tinyurl.com/5f27n2en