More guns in schools is not a good answer

I feel more guns in schools is a flawed plan:

1. Deterrence — The deterrent of having concealed weapons in schools would make sense if those making the attacks were rational thinkers. As we have seen, most of the shooters are suicidal and do not have any regard for their own lives.

2. Response time — I do not trust the fact stated that in mass shootings that when citizens stop the attack, that the death rate is lower. Look at the examples at Fort Hood and the naval yard shootings. There were armed personnel and guards in both locations.

Also, if you look at what happened in Tucson, the man with the concealed weapon that responded almost shot one of the citizens that overpowered the shooter.

3. Increased chance of accidents — Accidental gun deaths are more than 10 times higher than the rate of gun deaths in schools. The judgment to use a gun should be left to those trained in how to use them — our police force.

4. Opportunity cost — based on what I have read in the paper, there are costs that are not quantified in this program. In addition to the guns, we have the cost of training, background checks, maintenance, securing the guns and ammunition and liability insurance. In addition, this plan risks reduced support from the people of this community that most often support school levies.

My personal feeling is that it is much more likely that increasing the number of guns in schools will increase the risk of violence, not decrease it.

THOMAS BOKOWY

Sandpoint