Officials from the School Safety Advocacy Council reacted quickly to the many attempts to arm teachers following yet another school shooting. Police officials were still on the scene of a Cleveland School treating the injured students and teachers while gun rights activists were calling for legislation allowing teachers to carry firearms during the school day. “Anyone who truly believes that having more guns on campus will result in less gun related shootings simply lacks common sense”, said Curt Lavarello, Executive Director of the Council and a 25+ year law enforcement official.
“When law enforcement arrives on the scene, they need to know that the person with the gun is the bad guy, so they can take the appropriate measures to stop the violence”, continued Lavarello. “They certainly don’t need to arrive at an active school shooting scene and have to worry about who the good gun carriers are and who the bad gun carriers are, that would be more like the O K Corral”, said Lavarello.
The School Safety Advocacy Council recently released its 2007 National School Safety Survey, which was conducted in August 2007. The survey completed by both law enforcement and education officials concluded that 98% found schools are “soft targets” for terrorist activities and that 94% have experienced funding cut backs for school safety related issues. The full survey can be viewed at
www.SCHOOLSAFETY911.com .
Sean Burke, President with the Council and Police Lt. In the Boston, MA area stated “These school shootings reemphasize the school’s need for preparedness, yet often times districts become laxed when it comes to school safety initiatives.” “Once the shooting starts, that is not the time to dust off the crisis plan”. continued Burke.
