Letter: Will Armed Guards Really Protect Students?

To the Editor:

I am a parent of two Weston students who is very concerned about safety. That said, I am also greatly concerned that over-reactions will ultimately contribute to our culture of violence and create more problems than they solve.

The proposed installation of armed personnel at our schools troubles me and leads me to ask:

1) Can an officer really stop armed invaders who have body armor and the element of surprise, or are we only appeasing ourselves with the appearance of safety?

2) Is an officer really a deterrent to an erratic thinker who plans to die? Might they instead escalate their planning to overcome security by sniping from afar, using greater firepower, adding co-conspirators/shooters, detonating explosives? Is this an invitation for MORE carnage?

3) Do we want deadly crossfire when an officer’s hit rate is about 12 percent?

4) Do we want to further romance guns and send the message to our kids that authority is in the hands of those with guns? Are we not adding to a viscous cycle that says power and control comes from violence?

We are all facing a hard look at the limits of the Second Amendment, mental illness, and our culture. If we as Westonites and other Connecticut school districts quickly react in fear, we have effectively made a de facto vote with the NRA. Let’s not reach for guns to solve this problem. Rights, freedoms, and innocence—once lost—are very hard to get back. I don’t want my children being around guns during their school day (even in the hands of peace keepers) and I don’t want them being told that THOSE guns will keep them safe. That would simply add to these sad tragedies in my eyes.

Chris Friden

Weston