Armed guards at schools no solution

I favor the right to own certain kinds of guns but was amazed at National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre’s suggestion that having armed guards at every school may solve our guns problem. Many members of the NRA of course disagree, and a Gallup poll says there are an estimated 10,000 guards, most of them armed, already at some schools. Who could pay for this idea, and how effective would it be? There are strong feelings on both sides. A reasonable solution has to be made, but this is not one of them.

1. To outlaw guns lets the criminal know that the victim is unarmed.

2. Our culture of violence on TV, videos, etc., is also a big part of the problem and has to be addressed.

3. Some 200 year ago guns were needed and meant partly as protection against government abuse. Our weapon against such abuse today is the vote, which so many of us seem to disregard.

4. The average citizen today has no need for the rapid firing weapons that now exist.

Nobody can prevent all the crazy people and criminals from having guns. The loopholes in the federal anti-gun law of 1994 made that law ineffective. Rapid fire and speed of reloading large ammo magazines are the real danger and must be regulated. Dangerous weapons have to be clearly defined in any new law.

All of us have to be alert and careful when the situation calls for it. Mace buttons on a key chain, cellphones, being with others at all time are a few ideas. An armed crazy going into a school, knowing there is a guard there, would find another maneuver to accomplish his act. Armed guards at every school is no answer.

William McNutt Sr.

Des Plaines