At least eleven law enforcement officers were murdered or wounded around the U.S. in one recent 24-hour period. One attack occurred right within a Detroit precinct station. The attacker wounded four officers with a shotgun before he was shot dead. The news media are starting to refer to a “War on Cops.” There is an all-out international war on traditional symbols of lawful authority.
That is why a crazed anarchist attacked Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., killing six people in the process. That is why Europeans witnessed violent mobs take to the streets. Even as angry mobs firebombed businesses, Al Qaeda was preparing to launch teams of shooters within several European capitals to kill law enforcement and others in the fashion of Mumbai. In Mumbai, those who planned and managed the attacks succeeded in showing the world that Indian authorities were helpless in their efforts to protect the residents of city during multiple attacks that occurred over 24 hours.
Last December, a deranged man in Florida started shooting at school board members during a board meeting. A security director stopped the shooting. Only the gunman died. Some said it was “suicide by cop” because nobody but the gunman was actually hit. But the only officer in the school board meeting was the unarmed director of security. The district’s policy had required him to leave his gun in his vehicle. When the shooting started, the officer ran out to the parking lot, retrieved his pistol and returned to stop the threat.
Law enforcement, courtrooms, elected officials and judges — even churches — all are symbols of authority. Our schools also represent authority. Our kids represent what is most precious to parents, grandparents and society. I recently stated this fact at a regular meeting of the Federal Way School Board. I offered to meet with the board to discuss ways to protect our children.
Well-documented plans have been discovered to attack schools in America the same way Chechen terrorists attacked a school in Beslan, Russia. The terrorists barricaded the kids inside and then systematically conducted acts of depravity against elementary school students in order to show the parents that their government was impotent. At least 380 children were shot or burned to death in September 2004 after the perpetrators wired the school with explosives.
I have previously called for armed personnel in Federal Way schools. I have discussed this concept with one school board member already. Apparently, some Federal Way parents are already upset because we have an armed police officer in each high school. Apparently, guns send the wrong message even when accompanied by a badge.
One uniformed officer with a gun is not enough because the officer’s uniform just makes it predictable that the he or she will be the first target presented to assailants. How can we convince school officials to arm volunteers to protect our schools when some parents are already indignant about law enforcement taking on such responsibilities?
Most public policy makers and many parents will not be convinced until a Beslan-style attack occurs in the United States. The experts tell us that it is not a matter of if — just when and where massive shooting attacks should be expected.
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Meanwhile, if you are a teacher, maintenance person, school administrator or just a concerned citizen, consider attending a second informational meeting of the Armed Defense Training Association (ADTA) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the Federal Way Regional Library on 34200 1st Way S. Public policy is apt to change overnight, but the time to prepare for trouble is before it happens. About 50 people attended the ADTA meeting on Jan. 26, so we are off to a good start.
