A week after the tragic shooting in a Newtown, CT, elementary school took the lives of 26 people, including 20 students, the National Rifle Association (NRA) broke its silence and among other things, called for armed security guards to be stationed at schools across the country.
Wayne LaPierre, chief executive officer and executive vice president of the NRA, said during Friday’s press conference, “I call on Congress today to act immediately, to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every school — and to do it now, to make sure that blanket of safety is in place when our children return to school in January.”
He added, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Would you rather have your 911 call bring a good guy with a gun from a mile away ... or a minute away?”
Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, responding to the NRA’s statement, said, “Except in extremely rare cases, armed police are not the answer to school violence. What we must have are common sense guns laws such as banning assault weapons and ending the gun show loophole.”
On West Islip Patch’s Facebook page, readers were asked to respond to the NRA proposal of placing armed guards at schools. As of 4:30 p.m., there were 31 responses to the question.
Linda Campagna Felice said, " Absolutely... This should have been done years ago!"
Marianne Pizzo Bowden commented, "I'm not sure how I feel about armed guards but I am sure it is a better idea than making teachers carry guns."
Catherine Kats disagrees. "Guns around children not okay by me," she wrote.
What are your thoughts on the NRA’s comments and proposal for increased school security? Let us know in the comments section below.
Edward Robinson and Gregory Sleter contributed to this story.
