SCHOOL SHOOTING
On October 15, 2026 a school shooting happened in a quiet elementary school that I drive past several times a month. I know a couple of men who have children attending this school. The children, community and families have taken this extremely hard.
There was a strict policy of no guns on campus; not in the building, on the property and not legally secured in a car. There only defense were signs that said no guns on campus. They locked the doors and ran regular active shooter drills. Their genius plan was to hide, remain quiet and wait for help.
The armed father entered the building and classroom as the gunman was struggling with a heroic but unarmed teacher. He quickly shot and killed the gunman.
He was credited with saving many children and teacher's lives. A 7 year old student and a teacher were also wounded by the gunman and were hospitalized and are both recovering.
The national media covered the story but a good guy with a gun saving children and teachers did not fit their narrative, they quickly moved back to the very important projected election poll numbers. The media focuses on only one solution for school shootings, limit access to guns or get rid of them all together.
Many schools have adopted these gun free zone policies but school shootings keep happening. After each new shooting the same politicians, news outlets and celebrities get in front of a camera with feigned outrage and say the problem is guns. I call that the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
I do not understand why leaving our precious children without protection can protect them. Perhaps our banks, sporting events, politicians, executives and celebrities would be safer with signs and gun free zones. This always struck me as disgustingly hypocritical, our officials make speeches about school safety while they are surrounded by armed body guards, armed security and armed police officers.
When I was in school kids took their guns to school on the school bus for a rifle safety class. We learned to handle them safely, maintain and shoot our guns in a safe way. We learned they could be dangerous if handled incorrectly so they needed to be respected but not feared. Responsibility was the focus.
I know everything has changed but the need for these classes has not. If a kid never hunts or has an interest in guns understanding the basics is still important. They will eventually be around a gun so knowing what not to do is important. I have in the past owned a few guns but hunting doesn't interest me.
As for self defense I leverage the fact that I "might" be armed, in other words I bluff. The chance that I might be armed has worked. I never talked or acted like I am armed because the possibility or mystery has been enough. Protecting my loved ones is another story, I'll do what ever it takes but that is no one's business.
This basic principle is something I learned in bad neighborhoods and redneck bars. How I walk talk and act kept me safe. If I looked like a target or victim I would soon be a target or victim.
Announcing to the world a school is unarmed and announcing their safety plan is to hide, stay quiet and wait for help is foolish. I believe the unknown is very powerful if done right.
Imagine if a school just kept their plan quiet and created a mystery, a would be shooter may choose a softer target. This has happened in other shootings, the unarmed school was their second choice for a target.
I know what I am suggesting will not be implemented with the political climate in Oregon but if people were honest they know it would work, it is just common sense.
Imagine the focus was keeping the children safe. Accepting the fact that the world we live in bad guys have access to guns. Acquiring a weapon legally or illegally by straw purchase, theft or borrowing, a determined bad guy will get their hands on a gun. Granted some gun access has been prevented with background checks. In some states with red flag laws worked but they have also been abused. The fact is a bad guy will get a gun by hook or by crook.
There are very few statistics on crime prevention, a crime that does not happen is hard to track. Crimes that don't happen never make the news. Because school shootings are increasing so logic suggests the current approach may not be working.
There are schools in some areas that allow armed staff, police on campus and honor concealed carry laws on school property. This is always portrayed by the media as an armed camp that is traumatizing the children. Perhaps the constant focus on the "scary gun" has set the ground work for this trauma. The truth is teachers don't shoot their students they die trying to save them!
My plan would be to make available training and equipping for willing school staff members. Approved fire arms, training and gun safes. No person would be required to do this but the fact that some do would be a deterrent.
Years ago I worked a night security job in Phoenix. I had a plastic badge, pepper spray, a junk radio and no authority. The property owners hired us to stop vandalism and theft. All we did was walk around the property every hour, not to be crime fighters but to be present.
A few weeks after we started crime went down, not because we caught the bad guys but because we were there. Eventually the property or business owners terminated our contract because there was no crime. A few months later they would re-hire us because the crime came back.
In an ideal world none of this should happen but our world is not ideal. We have a choice wait till the world is ideal again or keeping our precious children and teachers safe in the world we have.
The absolute least we should do is not act like victims but speak with one strong undivided voice. Our schools are a target because we let them be a target.
This was my rant, the pain this community suffered should never happen but it did. Good guys with guns is all we have to confront bad guys with guns, so until they find a politically correct warm and fuzzy solution that actually works this is all we have.
To the celebrities, politicians and media super stars; please hold your feigned outrage and focus on a real world solution. Until then enjoy your personal security guards and secure gated community.
In the mean time schools will post more signs and the children will keep drilling...... hide, stay quiet and wait for help.
