Armed or Unarmed? A Look into the Pros and Cons of Armed Security in Schools

Unfortunately, school shootings in America appear to be becoming ever-more-common.

It is a sad fact that in 2018 there were more deaths and more incidents than in any other year on record. 

Those on the left and right argue about the very existence of the Second Amendment: the right of the civilian to bear arms. But there is also a more pressing debate to be had. 

Should schools hire armed school security guards to keep students safe from rogue gunmen? Whilst some – including President Trump himself – argue that armed guards at schools are vitally important to keep students safe, others firmly stand their ground. They say ‘more guns’ isn’t the solution to anything. 

Current Security Measures

Before deciding whether to hire an armed security guard at school, it is important to consider the adequacy of other security measures the school has.

Is the main door into the school secure? Those entering and exiting the building should have to be buzzed in. Or else given a key fob that allows them entry so that only authorized staff can enter and exit the building. 

The school could also consider introducing a visible lanyard ID that all staff and students have to wear at all times whilst on the premises. 

A tall and well-maintained fence around the school grounds is also a must so that members of the public cannot wander aimlessly. Round-the-clock CCTV monitoring should also be a priority.

Stun guns could also be employed as weapons used by guards an alternative to real guns. 

All of these measures should and could ideally be put in place regardless of whether the school ends up hiring an armed guard. 

A Deterrent That Does Not Have to Be Used

Those who argue for armed guards in schools say they can act as a deterrent. They don’t necessarily have to be used by the guards but if there are armed security guards, this might put off armed shooters from attacking the school. 

They would feel they would be less likely to succeed as they would be stopped in their tracks by armed guards.

Armed guards can also be trained into talking gunmen out of carrying out their attacks. 

Needless Deaths

Those who argue against having guns argue that they can lead to a situation where the shooter dies needlessly. Although armed guards might have the ability to talk gunmen out of their attacks when they sense danger they will inevitably be prepared to act. 

There was a suggestion that a student from Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, New Mexico might have been killed had the school he tried to attack have employed armed guards. He claims he heard voices in his head and approached the school wearing a ski mask, aiming the gun and preparing to kill but no one was injured. 

He may well have died at the scene rather than been arrested later on and put on trial if the officers had guns. 

A Model For Armed School Security Guards

In Newtown, Connecticut, the small town where the Sandy Hook Shootings took place in 2012, an experiment is taking place. Does having armed guards at school work? 

The guards at schools in Newtown wear the same uniform as the rest of the school. They are also trained to be friendly to staff, parents, and students.

Their tasks often involve day-to-day basic tasks like checking IDs and also searching the school from time-to-time to ensure there are no intruders. They don’t work for one individual school but are more of a civilian force that operates in all of the schools in the area. There are 9 armed guards in a 19 guard strong unit. 

There have been incidents – such as a shooting at Parkland, Flordia, in 2018 – where the school had armed guards but it did not prevent a school shooting. 

The biggest set back the idea faces is the law. After Sandy Hook Connecticut State passed laws meaning armed security guards at school have exactly the same powers as a police-office, accept the power of arrest. Though another law passed prevents public money from being spent on arming or training staff to protect schools.

It is unclear whether this refers to armed school guards in Newtown or just school staff themselves. Never-the-less, in the current polarised political climate spending money that should be for education

is controversial.

Armed Teachers 

But there is a debate that goes beyond introducing and paying for armed guards in schools. Some – including President Trump – think teachers and other support staff should be armed and trained with how to respond to an armed shooter situation. 

This could save money on armed guards themselves and put teachers in charge of the safety of their students at all times. 

Many teachers would not respond well to such a plan and there may be a mass walk out of teachers who objected to being armed. Moreover, although teachers would be trained in how to use their new arms, they are not professionals and would not be anywhere near as well trained as armed guards. 

No Easy Answers

Although whether schools should employ armed school security guards is a polarising issue and many people come down on one side of the argument or the other, it is a complex moral issue.

Those on both sides of the fence want to ensure the guaranteed safety of their students, they simply disagree on how. It is clear, however, that there have been shootings at schools with armed guards and those without.

To read more debates on hot topics be sure to check out our dedicated opinion section on our website by clicking here.