‘Not looking for a fair fight’: Florida school hires veterans to ‘put down’ school shootings
A Florida school has responded to the threat of school shootings by hiring two former combat veterans to patrol the halls with 17-inch barrel semiautomatic rifles and handguns, making it the first school to do so.
“If someone walks onto this campus, they’re going to be shot and killed,” Manatee School for the Arts principal Bill Jones told the Bradenton Herald. “We’re not going to talk with them. We’re not going to negotiate. We are going to put them down, as quickly as possible.”
https://t.co/8RunfwGZJg Absolutely appalling. American children don't need combat vets with semiautomatic rifles, they need effective gun control to stop shootings before they start. Scaring kids with daily reminders of their mortality does not a safer school make. #GunControlNow
— Chardo Richardson (@TheRealChardo) February 12, 2019
We all should get on board with this!!! Y'all want security or to be left in the dark when something happens, like 2018 when there was no reports, to my knowledge, of a middle schooler trying to bring a weapon to school and use it on other students,... https://t.co/umcpX6l8Tz
— Mr. R-Double-O-P (@MrRDoubleOP) February 12, 2019
Common sense for once, every principal not only in FL but the entire country should take a page out of this principal’s play book. But unfortunately like everything else the govt touches, common sense is void except for the few like this on here in FL. https://t.co/0cvuphcNVZ
— DarthTrader_FL (@DarthTrader_FL) February 12, 2019
Jones explained that the school chose combat veterans as guards because he doesn’t want an incident on the grounds to be the first time they’ve experienced being under fire.
“We’re not looking for a fair fight,” he added. “We’re looking at an overwhelming advantage.”
Sadly it’s needed nationwide. There are sick individuals out there capable of anything. #SchoolSafety#ParklandShooting
— MannyThoughts 🇺🇸 (@MannyThoughts) February 12, 2019
Many ex veterans suffer from ptsd .... 22 commit suicide each day. Just saying.
— Louie Schutz (@Unclelouieart) February 11, 2019
And when they accidentally shoot the children, will they be put to death or get life imprisonment? Just curious.
— BBN (@BeckyBNeustadt) February 11, 2019
The school was responding to a new law introduced in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year in which 17 students were killed. Florida schools must now have a school safety officer or school guardian which is a member of staff trained to counter attacks.
One of the veterans has 15 years infantry experience and is already working at the school, while a second veteran is currently being trained and will start later this month. The guards were trained by Manatee County Sheriff’s Department.
The school is also increasing the height of its fence by two feet.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
