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| NRA proposal to post armed guards in schools is debunked by critics | NRA proposal to post armed guards in schools is debunked by critics |
| (4 months later) | |
| The National Rifle Association's proposal to station an armed guard in every US school has come under immediate scrutiny, with critics stating that it would be too costly and, in any event, ineffective. | The National Rifle Association's proposal to station an armed guard in every US school has come under immediate scrutiny, with critics stating that it would be too costly and, in any event, ineffective. |
| At a press conference on Friday the NRA's executive vice-president, Wayne LaPierre, suggested that the only way "to truly cherish our kids" was through positioning "a properly trained – armed – good guy" in schools. LaPierre's comments, which were made a week after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six teachers died, were immediately attacked as insensitive and as a ploy to distract from calls for stricter gun controls. | At a press conference on Friday the NRA's executive vice-president, Wayne LaPierre, suggested that the only way "to truly cherish our kids" was through positioning "a properly trained – armed – good guy" in schools. LaPierre's comments, which were made a week after the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six teachers died, were immediately attacked as insensitive and as a ploy to distract from calls for stricter gun controls. |
| Moreover, as many pointed out, the concept of placing armed guards in schools is flawed on a number of levels. | Moreover, as many pointed out, the concept of placing armed guards in schools is flawed on a number of levels. |
| Cost | Cost |
| At a time when the US is trying to reduce government spending, the move would present a further bill to taxpayers, potentially running into billions of dollars. There are some 98,817 public and 33,366 private schools in the US, according to the department of education. | At a time when the US is trying to reduce government spending, the move would present a further bill to taxpayers, potentially running into billions of dollars. There are some 98,817 public and 33,366 private schools in the US, according to the department of education. |
| According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for a police officer is $55,010 per annum. | According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pay for a police officer is $55,010 per annum. |
| In that case, a crude estimate for the overall bill for the placing of an armed guard in every US school could be as much as $7.2bn. If the government only had to cover public schools, the total could be a minimum of $5.4bn. | In that case, a crude estimate for the overall bill for the placing of an armed guard in every US school could be as much as $7.2bn. If the government only had to cover public schools, the total could be a minimum of $5.4bn. |
| Even if the NRA was to claim that such officers could be redeployed during the summer break, it would still mean that the equivalent of around 74,000 positions would need to be filled – at a cost of $4.1bn. | Even if the NRA was to claim that such officers could be redeployed during the summer break, it would still mean that the equivalent of around 74,000 positions would need to be filled – at a cost of $4.1bn. |
| Effectiveness | Effectiveness |
| Anti-gun campaigners were quick to point out on Friday that putting armed guards in schools has been tried – and has failed. | Anti-gun campaigners were quick to point out on Friday that putting armed guards in schools has been tried – and has failed. |
| The Violence Policy Centre said that Columbine High School in Colorado had armed law enforcement agents on call when two teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a shooting spree in 1999. The agents were unable to prevent the deaths of 12 students and one teacher. They were "outgunned by the assault weapons wielded by the two teens", the VPC said. | The Violence Policy Centre said that Columbine High School in Colorado had armed law enforcement agents on call when two teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a shooting spree in 1999. The agents were unable to prevent the deaths of 12 students and one teacher. They were "outgunned by the assault weapons wielded by the two teens", the VPC said. |
| Similarly, Virginia Tech had armed police on campus who were unable to prevent the deaths of 32 people in a mass shooting in 2007. | Similarly, Virginia Tech had armed police on campus who were unable to prevent the deaths of 32 people in a mass shooting in 2007. |
| The NRA plan "has already been tried and it didn't work", said the VPC's executive director, Josh Sugarmann. | The NRA plan "has already been tried and it didn't work", said the VPC's executive director, Josh Sugarmann. |
| Even John Lott Jr, the author of More Guns Less Crime and a Fox News columnist, was dismissive: | Even John Lott Jr, the author of More Guns Less Crime and a Fox News columnist, was dismissive: |
| @scubarton @justinwolfers Identifiable guards are of very limited use in these cases.They will be the first person killed.Costly & not effec | @scubarton @justinwolfers Identifiable guards are of very limited use in these cases.They will be the first person killed.Costly & not effec |
| Logic | Logic |
| America's problem with gun violence is not confined to schools. In August, in Wisconsin, six worshipers were killed at a Sikh temple. A month earlier, in Colorado, 12 moviegoers were killed and 58 injured at a midnight showing of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. | America's problem with gun violence is not confined to schools. In August, in Wisconsin, six worshipers were killed at a Sikh temple. A month earlier, in Colorado, 12 moviegoers were killed and 58 injured at a midnight showing of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. |
| President Barack Obama's first term also saw multiple gun deaths at an army base, shopping malls, a civic centre and a political event in Tucson. | President Barack Obama's first term also saw multiple gun deaths at an army base, shopping malls, a civic centre and a political event in Tucson. |
| Critics of the NRA proposal have pointed out that protecting schools would not mean an end to gun-related deaths. The majority of the 30,000-plus shooting deaths which occur in the US every year did not happen in or near schools. | Critics of the NRA proposal have pointed out that protecting schools would not mean an end to gun-related deaths. The majority of the 30,000-plus shooting deaths which occur in the US every year did not happen in or near schools. |
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