Longtime gun lobby ally to lead plan for armed guards at schools

[tombogan03884]

I have no idea how accurately this portrays Hutchinson . It's the MSM so who knows .

http://news.yahoo.com/longtime-gun-lobby-ally-lead-plan-armed-guards-230030984.html



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In 2006, a political ad swept through the state of Arkansas, touting Asa Hutchinson's values as "shaped in rural Arkansas, a half-mile down a dirt road."

In his unsuccessful bid for governor, the former federal prosecutor and U.S. congressman touted his conservative political views and garnered a strong endorsement from the National Rifle Association, a powerful U.S. gun lobby.

On Friday, the NRA announced that Hutchinson - also a former Homeland Security official and now a lawyer predominantly focused on white-collar crime - will spearhead an effort to put armed guards at schools in hopes of preventing mass shootings like the one on December 14 in Connecticut that killed 20 young children and 6 adults.

"School safety is a complex issue with no simple, single solution," Hutchinson said at Friday's news conference. "But I believe trained, qualified, armed security is one key component among many that can provide the first line of deterrence as well as the last line of defense.

His effort, dubbed the National School Shield Program, would have a "budget provided by the NRA of whatever scope the task requires." It will focus on producing a security model, which may rely on local volunteers as armed security guards and would be offered for adoption at every school in America free of charge, NRA officials said.

Opponents of the plan say the United States needs to tighten gun controls rather than introduce more guns into school environments.

NRA has contributed more than $30,000 to Hutchinson's various political campaigns for state and federal offices over more than a decade, becoming one of his top backers, according to the Sunlight Foundation that tracks money in politics.

In a brief stint as a registered lobbyist at Washington law firm Venable LLP Hutchinson in 2007 represented Point Blank Body Armor, a maker of body armor for the U.S. Army, according to another money-tracking group Center for Responsive Politics,.

Hutchinson, now 62, was the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country, when Republican President Ronald Reagan appointed the then-31-year-old to the post in 1982.

In what his political ads later touted as a character-forming experience, Hutchinson at the time put on a flak jacket to negotiate a stand-off between local, state and federal law enforcement and a white supremacist group known as The Covenant, The Sword and The Arm of the Lord.

After unsuccessful bids for Senate and Arkansas state attorney general, Hutchinson became a congressman in 1996, replacing his brother Tim Hutchinson in the U.S. House of Representatives. He later serving as one of the managers during the impeachment of Democratic President Bill Clinton.

At the time, he voted for a bill that would have shortened the waiting time for gun buyers for any necessary background checks to 24 hours.

Hutchinson later went on to become the administrator at the Drug Enforcement Administration and the first under-secretary of the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security under Republican President George W. Bush.

In 2006, he returned to Arkansas for his unsuccessful run for governor, during which he briefly came under fire from his Democratic opponent Mike Beebe for airing an attack ad that featured children delivering the anti-Beebe message, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette at the time.

In an interview with the newspaper in October 2006, Hutchinson also shared his enthusiasm for hunting deer and other game and said his favorite hunting firearms were "a Remington 12-gauge shotgun and a Remington bolt-action .308 deer rifle."

"I think promoting hunting and shooting sports in general is a strong tradition in Arkansas, and it's a tradition that dies out if it is not passed on to the next generation," he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

When asked about the connection between hunting weapons and the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Americans the right to bear arms, he said: "To me, it's a matter of freedom, it's a matter of history and tradition, and it's a matter of self-protection."

(Additional reporting by Suzi Parker in Arkansas; editing by Andrew Hay)

[TAB]

Armed guards at schools are not going to stop these shootings.   Nor is wide spread ccw.    this is a mental health issue.  The question is ( and has always been)  at what point do you stop some one from getting a gun and how do you do it.   I don't have a answer for that.  As far as crimals and guns, I do have a answer for that use a gun in a crime, the gun is used to kill you.  And not some 30 years on death row deal, 30 mins after the verdict.   

[billt]

Armed personnel on site is a far better approach than gun control, which everyone KNOWS FOR A FACT DOESN'T WORK. Israel has been arming their teachers for years. The only place safer than a classroom in Israel, is aboard an El Al jetliner. You can't get in one or on the other without passing several armed people with sharp eyes. Guns are the solution here, not the problem. We learned that with concealed carry. Every statistic in the book points to it resoundingly.

[tombogan03884]

Armed guards at schools are not going to stop these shootings.   Nor is wide spread ccw.    this is a mental health issue.  The question is ( and has always been)  at what point do you stop some one from getting a gun and how do you do it.   I don't have a answer for that.  As far as crimals and guns, I do have a answer for that use a gun in a crime, the gun is used to kill you.  And not some 30 years on death row deal, 30 mins after the verdict.   

It's a lot more effective than "Gun Free zones".
Israel and Thailand have been doing it for years.

[Ranger Dave]

Armed security on site will put a "good guy" on site immediately rather than after someone has called the police.

Here is my thoughts 3 armed security officers, good camera surveilance, direct radio contact to law enforcement.
2 officers stationed at entrances, 1 officer watching cameras.
In case of shooter the first 2 officers will engage, while the camera officer will contact LE then go to help assist (preferably with a carbine).

In a everyday scenerio they check the security systems, fire systems, doors, windows and grounds for problems and other dutys assigned to teachers (parking lot duty etc.)

Still working out issues, input is appreciated.

Ranger Dave

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Something to think about as you work out the details,they are there to protect the site, not as "odd job" labor.
The only time they should consider leaving the doors are at recess times when they should establish some sort of, probably roaming, perimeter security .
Ever notice that people with hired security have a body guard and a driver , and the body guard never carries anybodies briefcase or luggage .
That is so the driver can focus all his attention on driving, while the guard has all his attention on guarding, and by keeping his hands free is always ready to react .
Any type of security/guard duty is the toughest job there is to perform well, it requires 100 % in a situation where 99% will never see any thing more interesting than a rabbit, or stray dog, but no one ever knows who will be that other 1% who suddenly find themselves dropping their coffee in order to fight for their lives.

[MikeBjerum]

Ranger Dave, here are a few of my thoughts that dovetail with yours:

1.  Entrances are already controlled, they just need to fine tune the security (locks, barriers and observation);
2.  Most facilities, like schools, already have monitoring cameras.  They need to review the procedure of watching what is monitored on camera and send out alerts accordingly;
3.  If you choose to include or use armed roaming security over allowing existing staff for response, place monitors that display all exterior camera views in multiple locations so a person can stop and view or station for short periods of time;
4.  While I believe that Rob Pincus' new training for children is great, and it is no different than many of us have been taught and have taught for years, we do need out schools to address classroom security - solid doors with quality locks, and limited soft cover (most schools have solid walls on two sides, but have windows in a hallway and exterior wall opposing each other) that would provide a safe place of solid cover (I'm struggling with making this clear without using my hands or a sketch;
5.  There is no need to specially train teachers and support staff in firearms.  However, teachers that have jumped through the hoops to obtain a carry permit should be allowed to do so.  Also, when a teacher gets additional training in advanced protection (NRA's Personal Protection In The Home or Personal Protection Outside The Home are prime examples, would be treated just like staff who get advanced first aid or CPR on their own for the benefit of the organization;
6.  Most importantly:  Firearm Safety courses need to be returned to the schools, and they must be a required course just like first aid and health.

Just a few ramblings this morning to add to your thoughts and to be a part of the solution rather than a rabble rousing talking head.

[kmitch200]

5.  There is no need to specially train teachers and support staff in firearms.  However, teachers that have jumped through the hoops to obtain a carry permit should be allowed to do so.  Also, when a teacher gets additional training in advanced protection (NRA's Personal Protection In The Home or Personal Protection Outside The Home are prime examples, would be treated just like staff who get advanced first aid or CPR on their own for the benefit of the organization

I like this WAY better than TSA for TOTS.
Asking congress to throw money at a problem that we already have an inexpensive, ready solution to isn't my first choice.

The question is ( and has always been)  at what point do you stop some one from getting a gun and how do you do it. I don't have a answer for that.

Nobody does, because it can't be done. As MB has stated: "Guns are 500 year old technology. They can't be un-invented."
Look at Mumbai, India where 10 guys attacked a city for 3 days or Mexico where bad guys have guns, RPGs & gendades and killings are daily occurences.
Trying to eliminate guns for bad guys is like trying to eliminate sunshine or air.
 
 

[tombogan03884]

Ranger Dave, here are a few of my thoughts that dovetail with yours:
Mine as well

1.  Entrances are already controlled, they just need to fine tune the security (locks, barriers and observation);
Double glass doors only keep out weather, picture windows and glassed in lobbies need some sort of additional barrier. But that raises the question of fire safety, if you can't break it to get in you can't break it to get out.
2.  Most facilities, like schools, already have monitoring cameras.  They need to review the procedure of watching what is monitored on camera and send out alerts accordingly;
They need to actually BE monitored, not just checked after the fact .
3.  If you choose to include or use armed roaming security over allowing existing staff for response, place monitors that display all exterior camera views in multiple locations so a person can stop and view or station for short periods of time;
I like this idea, it removes the "predictability" factor and makes the guard more effective as a deterrent.
4.  While I believe that Rob Pincus' new training for children is great, and it is no different than many of us have been taught and have taught for years, we do need out schools to address classroom security - solid doors with quality locks, and limited soft cover (most schools have solid walls on two sides, but have windows in a hallway and exterior wall opposing each other) that would provide a safe place of solid cover (I'm struggling with making this clear without using my hands or a sketch;
I understand what you mean and probably won't be able to express it any better, but adapt existing structures to "safe room purposes
5.  There is no need to specially train teachers and support staff in firearms.  However, teachers that have jumped through the hoops to obtain a carry permit should be allowed to do so.  Also, when a teacher gets additional training in advanced protection (NRA's Personal Protection In The Home or Personal Protection Outside The Home are prime examples, would be treated just like staff who get advanced first aid or CPR on their own for the benefit of the organization;
+10
6.  Most importantly:  Firearm Safety courses need to be returned to the schools, and they must be a required course just like first aid and health.

Just a few ramblings this morning to add to your thoughts and to be a part of the solution rather than a rabble rousing talking head.

I like this WAY better than TSA for TOTS.
Asking congress to throw money at a problem that we already have an inexpensive, ready solution to isn't my first choice.
Nobody does, because it can't be done. As MB has stated: "Guns are 500 year old technology. They can't be un-invented."
Look at Mumbai, India where 10 guys attacked a city for 3 days or Mexico where bad guys have guns, RPGs & gendades and killings are daily occurences.
Trying to eliminate guns for bad guys is like trying to eliminate sunshine or air.

OKC was a bomb, Tokyo subway was poison gas, gun free Japan has knife attacks.
A nut can always get some sort of weapon, even a rock or pointy stick, (military derived weapons )
Since we can not keep the psycho from getting weapons lets see about preventing him/her from getting victims .
Remember "Silence of the Lambs", when you first see Hannibal Lecter ?
It is worth noting that Terry Nichols, and Ted Kozinsky, have not hurt any one in years.

[Jrlobo]

Those who advocate use of armed guards at our schools had better choose their words carefully. The anti-gun proponents admittedly are using emotional arguments, but those play well on parents, teachers and progressives in general. When someone like Asa Hutchinson mentions, even in passing, that "volunteers" could be used to perform armed guard duties, this will evoke the Trayvon Martin episode in those minds that are arguing for gun control. No amount of logic prevails in incidents like these. A do-nothing Congress is ripe to do something. Passing some form of gun control might just be their ticket to bury debts, deficits and taxes for a while, since they cannot figure an easy way out. After all, in their minds, what's higher in priority than protecting America's children from getting shot while drowning them in debt. 400,000 emails and tweets supporting stricter gun control on one side; what's on ours?