In a rush to “fix,” more often than not we don’t solve the problem and create unintended consequences born in the rashness and emotions of the moment.
That’s our reaction to a bill that’s been pre-filed by Missouri legislator Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, less than a week after a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school left 27 people dead. The bill would allow teachers and administrators to carry concealed weapons in schools.
The societal forces that have led to the shootings in Newtown and other locations across our nation have been at work for decades now and will not be undone with any single piece of legislation from either side of the political aisle.
Wouldn’t we be doing all a better service by finally admitting we have a problem and starting a national discussion on the causes of that problem?
Wouldn’t we be better served by taking a step back and reflecting upon what is known to work, rather than rushing forth into the unknown?
Would not a better memorial and show of respect for the victims be a thoughtful, practical approach that could yield actual, measurable results rather than emotional responses?
Legislators would do well to heed the words of Joplin’s school superintendent, C.J. Huff: “I have 600 certified staff members and teachers,” he told the Globe on Wednesday. “I think that we would be amiss to think that our schools would be safer by potentially having 600 armed teachers in our schools.”
Let’s put our efforts into providing the funds for trained personnel to act as security guards, and let’s restore some of the drastic cuts that have been made to state mental health institutions.
Those are efforts we think will have more merit in protecting our children.
Opinion
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Discussion
Our View: Wrong response
- Opinion
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Other Views: Still inspiring
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Our View: Setting standard
The sight of hundreds of young student volunteers walking across Moore’s Fourth Street interstate overpass had to be uplifting to the city’s tornado victims.
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Our View: Safer schools
Being able to see for ourselves what would have happened to our children had they been standing in the main hall of their schools during the May 22, 2011, tornado had a profound effect on our understanding of safe schools.
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Marilyn Beasley, guest columnist: Claiming responsibility for abuse of power
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Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
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Our View: Absent from House
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Your View: Terrible injustice
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Your View: Should we be outraged?
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Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
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Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
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