Here is another item we all should keep in mind as this unfolds, and this not to say Sheriffs are all bad, Sheriffs are elected officials. I need not say more.

PARKLAND, FLA. (WSVN) - A student who was at school during the time of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas said he saw School Resource Deputy Scot Peterson sit by and do nothing.

“He’s the only one with a gun,” Huff said. “He’s wearing a bullet proof vest, he has all that while school security guards, coaches were running in shielding kids — Coach Feis, Hixon were running in, shielding kids from bullets and losing their lives while he did nothing.”


Student to Stoneman Douglas officer: ‘You could have saved a lot of lives’ – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

Was 'Cowardly' Fla. Deputy Told to Wait for Backup?

According to USA Today, Israel was asked by a reporter “whether his deputies were told to wait for SWAT officers before going into the building.” Israel said he didn’t know anything about that and moved on to another question. He did not respond to a direct follow-up by USA Today.

Was 'Cowardly' Fla. Deputy Told to Wait for Backup? | RealClearPolitics

Can the Gov even fire the Sheriff if he wants to? How do you fire an elected official? Impeach, maybe, I guess. Recall? Something. BC that would leave him open to being able to fire elected officials for whatever reason, technically.

Just saw a report by a Florida Congressman about what can be done with the Sheriff. He said, Under the Florida Constitution, the Governor, could suspend the Sheriff and appoint a temporary replacement. The Florida Senate would then decide whether to re-instate the Sheriff, or remove him from office.

Ah, interesting.

I'm a simple man and will make this short:

1. Why is it OK for an 18-21 year old to buy a rifle but not handgun? New law = 21 for all firearms. period

2. Background checks and waiting period = Abide by the Federal laws to a T. Strengthen the alerts re Mental/psychological issues. Strong responsive local/state/fed databases and closed-loop system for 'Say Something' reporting. Hold people accountable.

3. Entry points to schools - must be hardened and monitored.

4. Allow highly trained/certified school staff/teachers access to safely secured guns in key areas within the school.

ps. Fire Sheriff Israel today for dereliction of duty.

No simple solutions of course, but this time = DO SOMETHING substantial. We will never be completely safe against a crazed gunman anywhere, but should increase our defense...and offense.

DeanFl, Amen........ Pretty simple. Why can the people figure this out but not the Politicians?

Still wonder if teachers who are under fire would be able to hit anything? Many combat veterans think arming teachers is a bad idea. If the teacher is a combat veteran that would be OK but otherwise.... And you might have to worry about a combat veteran teacher too if he or she has had a lot of traumatic events in his or her life.

Is Arming Teachers a Good Idea? - Veterans Talk Arming Teachers

If you have been in a life threatening situation-- I have been in several such as 4 cars spinning out of control and an attempted carjacking-- it is hard to think clearly at that time. Unless you have a lot of training for that kind of action.

Also had a "friend" put a BB into my left pinky after initially pointing the BB gun at my left eye. I convinced him to try shooting between my fingers rather than shooting my eye out. He missed the space between my fingers. I squeezed the BB out of my pinky. That was the start of my journey away from these "friends" I hung around when about 15.

It is hard to think when you have a gun pointed at you even if in my case it was just a BB gun. It could easily have taken my eye out though.

Sufficient training is supposed to replace/reduce the thinking part of the equation....which works for the majority of those trained...properly.

Is someone ever shooting back in these training situations?

I do know people I would expect would be able to handle themselves very well in a firefight but the average teacher is not one of them.

Why are there not more suggestions for making it more difficult or stop an unwanted intruder in a school.

Seems like too many are too focused on the gun aspect and not giving enough attention to other defense measures.

All classroom doors locked while class is in session.
All entry doors to the school locked during the day.
Have only one door that is managed for allowing either entry or departure.
Shooter on the property notification to be a loud and disturbing alarm.
To name a few.

Places like TV that are noted for their volunteering...start a volunteer guard force made up of retired military, fire, police....to patrol/monitor school property and hall ways....yes armed.

And for this creative thinking request there is no negative commentary on anybody's suggestions.....objective is to create a list of possible actions.....some of which will be incorporated....that will MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Expecting the resolve to come from a hot bed political driven subject like guns.....is pretty much a waste of time.

What is it we the people can come up with that can be incorporated tomorrow....without politics....or special interest meddling?

Volunteer armed hall monitors. Google it.

Excellent post, from someone who has been a well respected person for a long time because he worked hard, and played by the rules.

These are the victims of the Florida school shooting - CNN

Let's remember the victims/survivors of the Parkland shooting and what they went through. And try to have some empathy with the kids in schools now who have to live with the real possibility that there might be yet another shooting. Empathy though is the most important and not who has the most guns on campuses. Do not see more guns in schools as creating an atmosphere of learning. That sounds like a prison but guards have the keys to gun rooms they do not carry firearms. Why? Because prisoners might take these weapons away and use them on the guards and prison staff.

Schools should be teaching everything but the gun culture we have in America.

Some areas of the country are deeply connected with this gun culture so they might reasonable take another approach.

Talk to teachers and students you know about what they want to happen? Fewer accessible guns due to mental health checks, locks on guns in home put on by parents, sales restrictions of certain types of guns, stopping of manufacturing of certain guns, aggressive parenting, mental health systems in schools at all levels, etc.

The politics of guns, where made, where sold, in what state, etc, etc, as in the past is a deterrent to getting any meaningful legislation beyond what is already on the books.

I will re-iterate that there is much more that can be done to protect the citizens that does not involve the gun, specifically.

The so called "gun culture" is more like an urban legend.
Many of us grew up in areas where hunting and shooting sports were a significant part of family life. Of course in our days guns were not the political pawns as they are today.

Reasonable people doing and suggesting reasonable checks and balances can get much more done than politicians. History provides testimonial to the fact politician are incapable of providing solutions to the REAL issues.