To the Editor:
One of the default solutions offered for countering an active shooter in a school is arming teachers. Thus, ensuring that “the school” can push back on an intruder rapidly and lethally.
At first glance, this solution rings true; but is it really? Like every other part of this problem, there is “no one size fits all” solutions. There are only questions that beg more questions.
Law enforcement does not have the answers, but they know that forethought is better than afterthought, so they train.
Our deputies and officers in South Monterey County have been training to protect our children in our schools. For they know one brutal fact is that time is always with the child murder, always.
The deputy working uniform patrol that day will be the one responding first to the school shooter. And the deputy will already know the physical structure of the school; usually the active shooter will only pay attention to the “No Guns Allowed” sign.
During my last 10 years, I usually worked day shift; King City South, with responsibility for four grade schools and six churches. That is all ancient history now.
Deputy John Locke, myself and other deputies used part of our time on patrol walking, listening and learning the physical structure of our schools, time well spent and in itself rewarding.
We never had to make use of this for what is known as an active shooter in a school or a church. But today, our deputies know it could be in their future. And if or when it happens, our South County deputies will do whatever is necessary to protect our children.
One of my granddaughters asked me, “Grandpa, why do the bad guys, the shooters, always pick the places with the ‘No Guns Allowed’ sign?” I didn’t answer because I know she knew why.
J. J. Burnes
King City
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