What schools DO have Resource Officers? Any elementary schools?

Heighten security is good! Protect our children by all means!

I guess my concern is how will this affect the learning environment. The schools have become a more like prison camps and this has a tendency to take the student's minds off studies. Why not just de-centralize schools somehow so the numbers are much lower and controllable. Or try home schhooling through use of computers. The savings on buses and buildings could be used more effectively. The extra-curricular activities could still be facilitated during the week without the mass gathering of students in one location. If nothing is done the mayhem will only increase. I personally would not want any of my children subjected to police presence, though. This is the outcome of a lack of morality throughout our society and will only get worse unless we find solid answers.

The Lord warned us that the land would vomit us out if we failed to keep His statutes and commandments. Our permissive society is reaping what it has sowed.

I am MORE than thankful for the added police presence at my youngest elementary school....better a police officer than a mentally ill armed gunman. Thank you BCPD!

BCPD do fantastic work, and many individual officers are not recognized for it

WHAT a JOKE and nothing more than SMOKING MIRRORS ..Wake up and stop drinking the kool-aid. The police now say they are understaffed and takes forever to respond to calls and now they are saying they will have time to walk through all these schools...YEA OKAY...Can we really expect Government to protect our kids when that should be our jobs as parents ???? And why did they wait so long after the Pony gets loose to not lock the gates ??? Stop drinking the kool-aid before it gets you....

Anyone who thinks this is Biblical retribution is immature and ridiculous. As far as the police go I'm thankful for them.

I can hear the calls for gun-control now -- like that would solve anything. It's REALLY, REALLY simple. The schools should not be "gun free" zones ... what a joke. Every time I see those signs it makes me want to laugh (or cry) ... talk about useless. The schools need to train and arm the teachers. Just think if the teachers at this school were all armed ... maybe only one or two would be killed, maybe even none.

By making something a "gun free zone" only let's the criminals/criminally insane know where they will run into little or no resistance, and can kill at will.

If you'll notice, no one tries this crap in Texas, Louisiana, Florida or other gun-rights friendly states. Why? Because they know they won't get very far before fire is returned and they are eliminated.

further to DSam: you mean you all are gonna be guarding your kids in school, going to and from same and everything else? So when you gonna work? ..and by the way ...the door was locked at NewTown .. the shooter, at last report, is the son of a teacher who worked there, until hre killed her...

The average response time of a 911 call is 23 minutes, the response time of a ..357 is 1400 feet per second.

The most important rule in a gunfight is: Always win - cheat if necessary

The killer responsible for todays' tragedy odviously had not received the Mental Health Care he desperately needed. Something went terribly wrong in that area.........

But the liberals in the general assembly and governor yo'malley are anti death Penalty.

If he had a mental problem the guns should have been locked up and with trigger locks.If that was the case did he force his mother to give him her keys ?.Too easy to cause all the hurt that the poor families are going through. We really don't know what caused him to resort to that action. I guess the investigation will get to the heart of the problems that led to this tragedy.

Since Columbine, there ave been 181 significant shootings at our schools. Speaks volumes.

I hate to say it but it is very hard to stop someone who is hell bent on committing this type of unspeakable act. School guards may be a good start to limiting the risk in schools but evil people such as this will likely inflict their damage elsewhere. Effective treatment of mental illness and identifying those that are deemed at risk will be far more effective than more calls for gun control.

It is far too easy to get into Baltimore County elementary schools. A friend of mine works in an elementary school in a rather affluent section of the county. It was found that two intruders had entered the school, and at least one teacher's wallet had been stolen last week. I no longer have children in the public school system, but have a new grandson. I'm not sure I'm feeling very comfortable about the day he will start school in a few years. I never thought I would take this opinion, as I've never been a fan of home schooling. However, the world is getting crazier, and homeschooling may become an option.

First, I would like to say may God be with the families of the victims. Second, I would like to add; that in my opinion a police presence in any school warants a hostile enviroment. From experiance, many of the "Resource Officers" are NOT very resourceful to the students. Many of these officers treat their job as a "Resource Officer" as an early retirement plan. We need them on the streets NOT in our children's school. I would like for you all to ponder this. Why are there NOT any "Resource Officers" in any private schools?

for azu.. well, on no guards in private schools .. probably because no nut bags have decided that Gilman.. or St. Joe's.. or Calvert Hall .. Loyola ... Notre Dame Prep or Mercy ... present a threat to them ... but ya gotta bet a whole bunch of Hail Marys that as soon as one them gets hit .. tuition will go up $500 a year to cover "security concerns" .. and a bunch of Jebby brothers will be hitting the the indoor range up at the old John Deere building in Texas, Maryland..

The only folks that need high capacity clips for the guns are law enforcement and nutbags who are looking to take out as many innocents as possible.

Not saying ban guns, but apply some common sense to ownership. You will never need more than a six shooter for home defense. Shotguns and hunting rifles in Maryland have maximum magazine sizes (3 and 8 respectively). Seems that animals that you are allowed to shoot have greater protection under the law than kids do.

Outright banning of guns is probably impossible, but we can bring some common sense to the table. Ban high capacity magazines.

Well I see it did not talk long for the liberals of this country to petition the right to bear arms. I had to turn off the news yesterday because all was being talked about was guns and not the NUTS behind the guns. Yesterday was a tragic event and I pray for the families but there is more to the story then the guns that were involved. Where are all the liberal vinegar bags when people die everyday due to alcohol related deaths (vehicle, suicide, disease)? Why haven’t these liberals petition the removal of alcohol from this country? Where are all liberals in regards to high speed vehicle accidents? Where is the liberal petition on the building of vehicles that travel over the speed of 70 mph? We can go on about tobacco, food, pollution just about anything that kills. The bottom line is people kill people.

In this country we have slowly removed God from our schools, over the last 50 years, and guess Who is marching in to take his place; and all in the name of "religious liberty". Why, even in this state of Maryland, we have "legitimized" Evil in the voting booths; all in the name of "freedom" and "equality"

Why, God, Jesus, and the Bible...... that is just a Fairy Tale to a lot of people; something invented by a group of nomads, sitting by a campfire, under the stars in some Mid-Eastern desert thousands of years ago - Why, we are in the "Enlightened Age" and we know that Evolution and Equality is what is really important.

But the bad side of this Fairy Tale; there's not going to be a "Happy Ending". The Ending of this Fairy Tale is: It is just going to get worse, worse, and more worse!!!!

It is incumbent upon responsible gun owners to protect our second amendment rights by effective policing our numbers. The burden of this falls on us. Quite frankly as a society we have failed to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and psychotics, and now kids are being killed by the tools we use to protect ourselves. Protection from protection. Ironic. As gun owners we have resisted all attempts to mitigate the problems created but such easy access to firearms.

Either we as gun owners police ourselves and accept reasonable controls to facilitate that... or others will do it for us, in a far more absolute manner than is probably necessary.

As a responsible gun owner/enthusiast, I find the immediate demonization of guns and folks like us laughable and immature. Secondly, I find that all of you fail to blame the assailant and point the finger at everyone else for letting this happen. This 20 year old stole his mother's legally purchased guns to do this. He was able to get into a "gun-free" zone and unload without having to worry about an equal amount of force being sent back at him. The same is true in every single other mass-shooting. Without an appropriate response, these evil and sick minded beings can blast away all they want. Nothing any law could do will prevent sick people from doing sick things.

And then there are those that say, "More guns make things worse" or "How can one respond without hurting others?". I almost think that people who think this way are even worse. When you bring those arguments about, you are condoning the horrific acts. "Don't shoot back. You'll hurt innocents." Meanwhile, some sicko is killing away without restriction. Do any of you (anti-gun) folks think about this? Unfortunately, accidents do happen when armed citizens/police/military respond. However, even if one life is saved because of an armed response (regardless of who it comes from); isn't that better???

Yesterday's events made me angry and sad. They were children. Seek out people willing to do this kind of harm and treat them. Treat the source. Love one another.

"Sorry but prayers and giving your kids hugs fix nothing; only having the balls to stand up to our insane selfish gun culture will."

~ Bill Maher

Bill Maher ranks right up there with Glenn Beck the only difference ones right and the other is left.

To all the ones who have a negative response to my opinion, I would just say that when I was in grade school in the 1950's we prayed to God every day. And we didn't have to worry about someone filled with evil thinking, coming into our school and killing teachers and us.

You are all entitled to your opinions and I respect them. But I don't see electronic technology, guards, or psychologists,etc. making our children and grand children any safer from a tradgedy like this, when the perpetrator has been programmed with an evil and warped mind.

I was referring to voting for gambling in this state; but of course if someone doesn't believe that a particular action is evil, then it must not be evil to them...... but, of course everyone has a different opinion of what is right or wrong.

Cliff,
FYI if you haven't figured it out by now if you don't have the same views as some on here they will scold you, degrade you and act like complete idiots.

"The Dunblane school massacre occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. The gunman, 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton (b. 10 May 1952), entered the school armed with four handguns, shooting and killing sixteen children [aged 5-6] and one adult before committing suicide. " per Wikipedia.

The result was that the United Kingdom banned all ownership of handguns that fired cartridge ammunition. The other result is there hasn't been a school shooting since.

Sadly, the murderer added 20 small children and seven adults to our total in the USA.

In the 1700's when the US Constitution was written, a musket could be fired every 12-15 seconds by a well trained soldier. If only the shooter in Connecticut had one instead of a pair of semi-automatic hand guns that fire as fast as he could pull the trigger. We would have a lot of little kids alive today.

The following needs to happen now in order for our country to heal. My hope is this knocks some sense into our elected officials and other so called leaders. Specifically:
Republicans must accept that fact that under President Bush and his illegal wars, thousands of our men and women have lost lives and thousands of others will have their lives changed forwever. In additional, the wars were not funded as needed by those who were to benefit the most. IMMEDIATE TAX INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD AND EVEN HIGHER - 42% TOP RATES FOR THOSE MAKING OVER $250k PER YEAR. Republicans must propose immediate 20% reductions to the military budget, effectively ending this absurd military apparatus in which we destroy countries only to rebuild them with our money - and the people there still hate us.
Democrats must accept the fact that their leader has been purposely dividing the country. IMMEDIATE 20% CUTS ON ALL OTHER SPENDING.
Both parties need to start going to church together, and spread the mission of peace internally in our country.
Network executives, specifically at NBC and Fox must realize that the shows of Sean Hannity, Maddow, Shultz, and ODonnell and the Engilsh guy at CNN must be immediately cancelled. They are ruining our once peacefull country. They must return to reporting straight news. Racist announcers of all kinds espeically the fool who tried to take down RGIII for not being "black enough" must be removed immediately.
We must rebuild our morals now!!

I'm still confused on this 250K makes you a rich person logic. 250K in my opinion is upper middle.

Rare I do agree with your last paragraph in regards with news networks.

This started out to be about gun violence, but like most discussions on the Patch it has disintigrated into ideological slamming. Time to exit, Stage Left. I'll keep an eye open to see if rational discussion creeps back in.

What we need is more Offender Registries as we have with the sex offender registry to keep track of violent type offenders... 1) Spousal Abuse Registry 2) Drunk Driver Registry 3) Gun Offender Registry and maybe even a couple others. They tell us how effective the sex offender one is , so why not expand and make other registries so we can protect our kids and families from all type of violent offenders ???

It's amazing watching Faux News try to spin this tragedy..

If media did not cover these events...they would most likely cease in time...

Covering the news is one thing. To ask how many times a child might have been shot is hardly any comfort to the grieving families.The more they focus on the shooter the more it opens up the door for another "sick' person to see it as an attention getter. We never heard of a school shooting until the first one. Now persons walk into schools and use them as platform for international attention.The media will go into the "reasoning" for his actions.Let the local authorities deal with the "reasoning" and leave the poor families have the space they need to deal with this tragedy.

for no ... I did challenge your premise .. you just didn' read it that way .. whether or not the mainstream media covers it ..the slaughter will get out some way .. I spent 41 years in the news business and I know .. keeping 26 people dead suddenly will not be kept quiet .. and actually .. hushing it will push nuts to go "grand scales" .. in other words, nut thinks 26 didn't make NBC Evening News, let's go for 100 at a nationally televised football game... censoring a horrific event is not possible..so your premise is not doable..

"The people who fight and lobby and legislate to make guns regularly available are complicit in the murder of those children. "

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/newtown-and-the-madness-of-guns.html#ixzz2FEh24bJL

Now that's a stretch Steve........

Steve do you have the same feeling about alcohol, tobacco and drug company lobbyist?

even though I'm in favor of stricter (but not total) gun control, I have to agree with eastsider... you can't blame the advocates on either side ..
steve's stand is like saying those who support the war are responsible for abu grahe.

Another "Obammy Gunna Git Yor Guns!" Gun Nutter with 40+ guns and $100,000 worth of ammo is arrested for threatening to shoot up an elementary school.

http://news.yahoo.com/ind-man-47-guns-arrested-school-threat-164928349.html

.....and the beat goes on..

What is stricter gun control? Is it banning large capacity magazines? A proficient shooter can squeeze off just as many rounds with 8 to 10 in a clip carrying multiple clips as I can with a few larger clips. Is the answer tighter control on who can purchase weapons? I would agree more training and qualification for ownership. Is it banning certain types of weapons? What is the answer?

Holton, In an interview with the chief Medical examiner the question was asked if there were more than one instance. where some children were shot more than once.
He did say it did happen. Reporting the news is good to get the "message" out. Sometimes the reporters fall over themselves trying to get all the information out regardless if it affects the investigation or infringes on the privacy of the grief stricken families.Lets hope the message gets out that this is not the way to solve a problem. As you said, don't need a person looking to outdo the body count in every instance.

Ravens time, but good stuff. Interesting the most powerfull man in the world who sets values and who has an administration clearly lacking in values is somehow powerless to change the culture. By 2016, our country will have 24 years of a President with questionable or poor morals and values. Our country is now showing this lack of values in society every day. Go to a Walmart or Giant anywhere around the Metro area - you can clearly see this lack of morals, values, etc. Two interesting items - the day before the tragedy, the little fellow representing Obama at a news conference was asked about the Unions beating up and destroying property in Michigan. He played if off, no big deal. Does not codemn this behavior. And you wonder why society has no morals? If you where the "D" on your chest, you will not be held accountable.
I had commented that Obama was clearly upset - would this change his antics and if so how long? Well, what happened. Hillary Clinton has a concussion and is unable to speak about Libya on Thursday. How convenient!

I would expect a police presence and patrol after any incident like this. It's SOP. This is a good thing that we have BCPD.

Hey....mjmikej,
let me ask you how in the world can u drink this kool-aid you r being handed by the bcpd when they do not even have enough officers to cover partrols at times and takes forever to respond to calls as it is and while these same officers are walking school grounds this will open more windows for criminals to attack and have more time to escape while these officers area trying to get back to their cars to respond..good attempt at public relations..but we know the truth..and this is only trying to get the cows once they are on the loose..

yeah..but... Sam .. imagine the screams from the right if the county cops didn't respond with coverage .. but i mean after all .. what good are unarmed teachers and resource cops .. except.. maybe for back in august at perry hall.... the right blew a big chance for armed school personnel to get in some colateral damage scores ..

Well, this began as a "response" to police patrolling schools that do not have resource officers, i.e. most elementary schools. As always, it becomes a battle of "who's opinion on whatever is the correct one or about politics". I work in a Baltimore County high school; yes we do have a resource officer. One person only! Can he be everywhere in this building at one time? Not hardly. Having officers in the buildings may somewhat deter a "crazy" from coming in; I seriously doubt it. But closing off easy access to all the schools needs to be a priority. Mr. Herndon says "there is no threat to Baltimore County Schools". Where does he sit? In a locked office? What happened at Perry Hall High School to start off our school year? We in the schools are greatly concerned about the childrens' safety while in the buildings as well as our own safety. There needs to be more security in all of them, be it locking all the doors and access by identification only or by police presence, or just always being vigilent by all of us within of unfamiliar people in the buidlings. And to Mr. Herndon and all you others above that rattle on about no problem, gun control, politics, and everything else should realize that bantering back and forth will not solve this problem. Work on something constructive with positive actions for solving the problem. Truthfully, i don't really know what will. But I hope and YES pray that we find solutions; ones that don't take years to enact!

When you watch tv today, the government doesn't allow you to watch someone taking a drink of the alcohol product they are selling; the government doesn't allow you to see a commercial about cigarettes .... Where is the outcry of our rights being taken away????

Yet, the government can't be trusted to ban certain weapons, or impose restrictions on certain firearms being sold to potential nutcases ,,, to protect our precious little children or grandchildren???? (Hasn't everyone saw the pictures of those little innocent beautiful 6 and 7 year-olds that were shot for no reason in CT????)

Which rights taken away from us, and violated, would be worse???????
(1) Not being able to watch someone take a drink of Samuel Adams on a tv commercial - take a puff of a Marlboro on tv .....OR
(2) Banning the sales of AR15's or other assault rifles, and yes, even 9mm handguns to the general public .....

If Noah Pozner were still around, I wonder what his opinion would be .......