Page 130 - Security Today, April 2018

TOPIC DISCUSSION
MORE GUNS ON CAMPUS ARE
THE LAST THING WE NEED
Executive Editor Sydny Shepard questions security consultant Patrick V. Fiel, Sr. on best practices
In light of the recent tragedies on campuses, many government officials and organizations have been calling for increased security on educational campuses. Perhaps one of the most controversial security measures to surface is the idea of arm- ing teachers on campuses.
Just two weeks after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where an ex-student shot and killed 17 people and injured 14 more, I sat down with Patrick V. Fiel, Sr., founder of PVF Security Consulting, to get his take on the campus security debate.
SHEPARD: In the wake of the high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., the campus security measure of arming teachers has begun to make the rounds. Why does this seem to be the go-to solution?
FIEL: This new idea seems to be gaining some traction in an effort to stop school shootings on K-12 campuses. President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Associa- tion’s main proposal to prevent another tragedy like the one in Parkland is to arm teachers. This is their go-to
solution because they believe the presence of a firearm could halt fur- ther damage in the act of another school shooting.
SHEPARD: It seems to me that there are numerous reasons why school administrations would not want to add more weapons to their campuses. In your opinion, does placing firearms with school admin- istration and teachers make campuses safer?
FIEL: This ill-advised idea of arming teachers could lead to more shootings with innocent people being caught in the crossfire. There would be more opportunities for guns to be stolen or taken by force, and armed teachers would unlikely provide much of a difference when a student gunman has the advantage of surprise.
SHEPARD: That is a fantastic point. Many teachers are not trained to use firearms or may not feel comfortable with having one in their pos- session. Asking faculty to be the last line of defense in an active shoot- er scenario seems a little unfair. How can teachers help protect their students without a firearm?
FIEL: Teachers have enough on their plates as it is. They need to be able to concentrate primarily on their job of educating students, but they can play a role in helping to identify troubled students that need counseling or professional psychological intervention. Teachers and staff should take every threat and student tip of potential violence seri-
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