Every morning, I watch my mother gather her belongings and head to her classroom, and every evening, I feel a sense of relief when she returns home. It shouldn’t be this way for families in America, yet here we are, living in fear for the safety of our teachers, children, and school staff.
We have gone through many tragedies, including Sandy Hook, Parkland, and the recent shooting in Minnesota. The names of these schools have become associated with unimaginable sadness and pain, as we remember the faces of the staff and students whose lives were cut short. Every situation raises the same question: when will enough be enough?
The answer lies not in the decades of political debate, but in a practical agreement focused on safety for all. It’s time for both sides to give up their current positions and accept a feasible solution: trained armed security guards in all American schools.
Following these tragedies, Republican lawmakers, including Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, have often expressed their heartfelt condolences. But the families of Sandy Hook, Uvalde, and countless other towns that have been devastated by school violence need more than sincere remarks.
Banning assault weapons has long been the focus of Democratic lawmakers, especially Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Although this goal is admirable, the reality is that extensive gun regulations remain in Congress due to partisan deadlock. As we continue this critically important campaign, we must realize that when children’s lives are on the line, we cannot let perfection stand in the way of the greater good.
Local officials like Connecticut’s General Assembly and Gov. Ned Lamont also have an important role here. Lockdown drills alone are not enough because they lack the swift response or deterrence that an armed security guard could provide.
The solution is not arming teachers, because this is an extremely dangerous idea. Teachers went into education to pass on knowledge to new generations, not to act as armed guards. All of the risk factors to this are way too high. Accidental discharges, guns ending up in the wrong hands, and the emotional toll of asking our educators to potentially take a life in order to save others. Instead of being forced into positions that they never wanted, our school staff deserve better.
The other option is a careful approach that every side can support. Professionally trained armed guards, with military or law enforcement experience who are regularly inspected and thoroughly evaluated. Republicans can endorse safety measures that respect Second Amendment rights. While pushing for broader gun control, Democrats can back immediate action that saves lives.
This is about the safety of our schools. In a country where school shootings have unfortunately become a common occurrence, it’s essential to recognize the need for emergency prevention and rapid response capabilities. A clear security presence can stop attacks before they begin, and in the event that prevention is not successful, trained professionals can react in a matter of seconds as opposed to the number of minutes it takes for police to arrive. When compared to the alternative, the cost is reasonable. This goal can become a reality with the help of federal funding as well as state and local resources.
Neither my mother nor any other educator should have to worry about whether or not today is the day that violence will visit their classroom. No parent should kiss their child goodbye in the morning without knowing if they will come home safely that night. No community should have to join the tragic list of places where gun violence in a school has permanently changed lives.
Political posturing must come to an end. Our nation’s leaders have a responsibility to our children to take action now, not tomorrow or after the next election. A non-partisan option that saves lives while we continue to seek wider solutions is the implementation of trained armed guards in every school.
The real question is not whether we can implement this measure, but whether we can afford to ignore it.
Liam McCusker is a freshman at Central Connecticut State University majoring in broadcast sequence journalism.