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The comprehensive report, which is 458 pages long, by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission addresses the connections of screwups revealed in the wake of the shooting.
For example, the report includes fumbled tips, lax school security policies and the cowardly and unaggressive Broward sheriff's deputies who hung back in fear as shots were fired.
The report will now go to Gov. Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker José Oliva.
There are dozens of recommendations in the report. Some would require action by the governor and Legislature, such as the proposals to allow some teachers to carry guns and increase spending on school security. It also calls for laws to be changed to allow school districts to raise taxes for security improvements and to require rather than simply permit mental health providers to notify law enforcement if a patient threatens anyone with harm.
Many of the proposals were inspired by errors and weak spots that came to light after the Feb. 14 massacre of 17 people.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the commission, said many recommendations could have been implemented a long time ago had school safety been treated with the importance it deserved, especially by school districts.
“There needs to be a sense of urgency,” he said. “And people need to understand that there’s an expectation and a rightful expectation on the part of parents: When you send your kids to school in the morning, there’s an expectation they’re going to come home alive in the afternoon and there are very basic things.
“There’s a money issue, I grant you that. And there’s challenges with money, but there’s a whole bunch of things that don’t cost anything and the Legislature, if these districts won’t do it, should mandate that they implement these things and that they implement them immediately.”
Galvano said the recommendations will be taken up Tuesday at a meeting of the Senate Education Committee. He said he would consider supporting many of the proposals, including the one to allow teachers to carry guns, which would be accomplished through expanding the school Guardian program.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the commission, said many recommendations could have been implemented a long time ago had school safety been treated with the importance it deserved, especially by school districts.
“There needs to be a sense of urgency,” he said. “And people need to understand that there’s an expectation and a rightful expectation on the part of parents: When you send your kids to school in the morning, there’s an expectation they’re going to come home alive in the afternoon and there are very basic things.
“There’s a money issue, I grant you that. And there’s challenges with money, but there’s a whole bunch of things that don’t cost anything and the Legislature, if these districts won’t do it, should mandate that they implement these things and that they implement them immediately.”
Galvano said the recommendations will be taken up Tuesday at a meeting of the Senate Education Committee. He said he would consider supporting many of the proposals, including the one to allow teachers to carry guns, which would be accomplished through expanding the school Guardian program.
Gualtieri spoke forcefully in favor of the commission’s proposal to arm teachers, noting that the shooter had paused five times to reload — providing opportunities to stop him.
“So what are we saying to people — we’re not going to allow you to defend yourself, we’re not going to allow you to defend the kids — why? Because of some ideology that we don’t like guns? Anyone who thinks they’re going to get rid of guns is crazy,” he said. “It isn’t going to happen. We’ve got to do something differently and people should be able to protect themselves.”
Broward School Board member Robin Bartleman said she doubts the board will support allowing teachers to carry guns but thought the board should revisit the issue.
“I am very concerned about arming teachers,” Bartleman said. “I think it’s a discussion we need to have with the community. I have not found many people in favor of this. The overwhelming response I get is people don’t want teachers with guns.” Fortunately for Bartleman, she didn't lose a child in the shooting. Had she lost a loved one, her opinion may have been different. The same holds true for all anti-gun advocates.
“Teachers went to school to teach,” Bartleman said. “That is their expertise. Law enforcement, their expertise is supposed to be to engage a threat. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen on 2/14, but I still think we should leave it in the hands of law enforcement.”
“So what are we saying to people — we’re not going to allow you to defend yourself, we’re not going to allow you to defend the kids — why? Because of some ideology that we don’t like guns? Anyone who thinks they’re going to get rid of guns is crazy,” he said. “It isn’t going to happen. We’ve got to do something differently and people should be able to protect themselves.”
Broward School Board member Robin Bartleman said she doubts the board will support allowing teachers to carry guns but thought the board should revisit the issue.
“I am very concerned about arming teachers,” Bartleman said. “I think it’s a discussion we need to have with the community. I have not found many people in favor of this. The overwhelming response I get is people don’t want teachers with guns.” Fortunately for Bartleman, she didn't lose a child in the shooting. Had she lost a loved one, her opinion may have been different. The same holds true for all anti-gun advocates.
“Teachers went to school to teach,” Bartleman said. “That is their expertise. Law enforcement, their expertise is supposed to be to engage a threat. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen on 2/14, but I still think we should leave it in the hands of law enforcement.”
Yeah, how did that work out for you at the school?
Some teachers can walk and shoot at the same time. It is self-defense and the defense of the kids in the school that is the issue. There is something called "teaching" which can be done with guns and teachers. You can teach gun safety to them, and how to fire a handgun in an emergency.
It can save lives.
Well here we are in the start of a new year and the world still hasn't come to an end with President Trump in the White House, in spite of what the media and the left [but I repeat myself] would have you believe.
I hope that you will follow Brain Flushings throughout the year and feel free to comment on any issues of concern. Please subscribe and check out the sponsors on these pages too.
I hope that you will follow Brain Flushings throughout the year and feel free to comment on any issues of concern. Please subscribe and check out the sponsors on these pages too.
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