Pulling Together Re School Shootings

For John, BLUF:  And what is the point of reporting things if the law enforcement authorities aren't going to take notice?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Or Not

Joe Kennedy III bashes GOP response to school shooting

From The Boston Globe, by the Globe> Staff, 23 FEBRUARY 2018.

Here is the lede plus two:

US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, in a fiery appearance on “The View” Friday morning, lashed out at the Republican response to the Parkland, Fla., school massacre last week, but struck a softer tone when he addressed the need for more bipartisanship in Washington.

A day after President Trump proposed arming some teachers as a way to help avert school massacres, Kennedy was unequivocal in his rejection of the concept.

“The idea that somehow the right way to protect our children in schools is to try to make sure more and more people have guns? . . .  There was someone with a gun outside this shooting and it didn’t make a difference at all,” he said, referring to the armed school resource officer stationed outside the building who failed to respond.

Blah, Blah Blah, when the shooter is only seconds away the policy are only minutes away.  Not every teacher needs to be armed, and many probably shouldn't be, but arming some teachers, if it deters a third of such incidents is a third fewer deaths.

If we could magically absorb every gun in civilian hands it would not end this sort of acting out.  The Boston Marathon incident was bombs.  People drive into crowds.  I guess we could force chefs and butchers to register their knives.  We are dealing with thinking human beings, so where there is a will there is a way.

As for mental health, the move to empty the mental health institutions has rebounded in many ways.  I believe Representative Kennedy is not taking a helpful stance here.  What is his real plan?

Regards  —  Cliff
-1, Fri 1.0