Schools were forever changed with the high-profile shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1997. As a Maine public school teacher at that time, our staff met and came up with an “active shooter” plan to keep our staff and students safe. Since that time over 100 shootings have occurred on educational campuses across the U.S. Safety at our schools is a monthly item on staff meeting agendas.
Then Sept. 11 happened and our safety drills changed to busing students off school campuses to designated safe areas. School security plans were tightened. Schools doors are now locked. No admittance without identification.
The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will forever change security on our federal and state capitols. Metal detectors and heightened security measures are in place to protect us all.
What we really need to work towards is stricter gun control laws.
Lucy Lloyd
Freeport
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