Both My Kid's Schools Have Been On Lock Down Recently

Jesus said he came that "You might have life. Abundant life." (John 10:10)

Today at 3:15 I noticed my daughter hadn't gotten home from school. Dismissal is at 3pm. It's a 3 minute walk. She's usually in the door by 3:05 sometimes 3:10. Never 3:15.

That's when I saw two emails. One from the principal, the other from the school superintendent. The elementary school was locked down this afternoon after getting a threatening phone call that sounded robotic. The police were called. The threat was not deemed credible. But the police supervised an orderly dismissal. So no worries.

What?

It occurred to me, "Maybe they didn't let the kids who walk home leave." So I hotfooted it over there and sure enough, there she was.

"Did anything interesting happen at school today?"
"Yeah. During recess we were told to run to the classroom for cover. Mr. XX told us to run for cover."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Was it scary?"
"No. Only a few kids cried. [She named two girls] both have younger sisters at the same school. So they cried."

This is the dialogue every parents wants to have with their kid, right?

Two weeks ago my son's school went through a similar thing. Threat in the boy's bathroom. Cops called. Threat determined to not be credible. But police supervised dismissal. And then no school the next day because they couldn't be sure.

The NRA and other gun freedom advocates would have us believe the solution is securer schools. Gun wielding, trained security officers at the doors. Armed and trained teachers. Etc....

But here's my question. Is the assumption that a few times a year kids in every school across the nation should go through these drills? Is that really acceptable? Because as long as anyone and everyone can walk into a local gun shop and buy an AR these threats have to be taken seriously.

Is the assumption that 30-40 times a year, the threat will be real in some school. And kids will have to run for cover while some maniac terrorist starts shooting? The best we can do is have a few armed and trained officers onsite to return fire? Is that really the best we can do? Because as long as anyone and everyone can walk into a local gun shop and buy an AR these things WILL happen. If not in school, then at the mall, or the park, in the movie theater, at a concert or in churches.

Is this the best we can do? Is it an acceptable solution?

No. Of course not. Australia has done better. Japan does better. Most of Europe does better. Most of the rest of Asia does better. Canada does better. I don't have statistics on Africa, the Middle East or Latin America, maybe they do better. Maybe not.

But what I'm sure is "WE" can do better.

NRA folks say, "But America is unique. We aren't like those other countries."

Yes we are. Australia is the best example. Gun culture. Libertarian leaning. No school shootings. Very few shootings period. Why? It's hard for civilians to get guns.

"Yes," the NRA folks say, "but the 2nd Amendment. We have a 2nd Amendment."

That's true. We could probably solve this without messing with it. Universal background checks. Waiting periods to purchase. Mandatory psychological and competency licenses that have to be renewed every few years. This would probably be enough. And you could still have your 2nd Amendment.

But that's not how the NRA and their disciples interpret it. They are hard core. It's a "right" and as a right it can only be limited if someone has committed a serious crime.

Here's my feeling. I don't want to go there. But if forced to choose between the 2nd Amendment and the reasonable safety of my kid's schools, my church, the local movie theater, a concert in the park... then bye bye to the 2nd Amendment.

And since Christians make up a large percentage of gun rights activists, I would remind everyone that Jesus said he came that "You might have life. Abundant life." (John 10:10)

Jesus did NOT say he came to ensure, guard or even defend anyone's "right" to defend themselves.

I dare you to explain to me why the NRA vision of shootouts 30-40 times a year at schools around the country is adequate.