On NBC-TV on Sunday, former Education Secretary William Bennett said schools might consider arming certain workers as a way to prevent school shootings.
The psychologist and principal both lunged at the shooter. Bennett said: “I’m not so sure I wouldn’t want one person in a school armed and ready for this kind of thing.”
That’s not an acceptable answer. The epidemic of mass shootings in public places will not be stopped by the person with the fastest draw, the best arsenal, the truest aim. It will only be stopped when we rely on common sense and sharply reduce the proliferation of semiautomatic firearms and large magazines of ammunition.
The violence tin Newtown has reminded us that a proliferation in our society of weapons designed to kill many people as quickly as possible doesn’t make us safer.
This insanity has to stop.
President Obama, who ran in 2008 on a promise of banning assault weapons, must now turn tears into steel and lead the nation.
The overwhelming emotion of today is not necessarily permanent. Americans need to push back against the gun lobby. Hard. Starting now.
— Newsday (N.Y.)
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less