This document proposes implementing armed security personnel at elementary schools in the Antelope Valley Unified School District. It provides background on school shootings in the US, citing increasing rates of gun violence. The author argues that armed security is needed to protect children, given the prevalence of guns and the inability to address broader social issues. Cost estimates are provided to show armed security can be implemented reasonably. The recommendation is for the school board to contract the LA County Sheriff's Department to provide armed security, as is done at high schools, to enhance safety.

1. William Kirk
Loyola Marymount University
Technical Writing
Lynn Atkinson
August 16, 2013

2. 2
PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT ARMED SECURITY
PERSONNEL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Prepared for
The Antelope Valley Elementary Unified School District
School Board of Trustees
by
William Kirk
Technical Writing
August 16, 2013

3. 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ...................................................................................................... 5
GRAPH ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 People by Country........................................................ 8
TABLES.......................................................................................................................................... 9
School Shooting Deaths in the U.S. by Year, 1992–2007 ...................................................... 9
School Shooting Deaths in the U.S. by Year, 2008–2012 .................................................... 10
APPENDIX................................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix A: Survey ............................................................................................................ 11
Appendix B: Interview.......................................................................................................... 12
INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... 13
Background ........................................................................................................................... 13
The Problem.......................................................................................................................... 13
Solution................................................................................................................................. 13
Inaction Could be Costly ...................................................................................................... 13
Benefits ................................................................................................................................. 13
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 14
Statement of the Problem...................................................................................................... 14
Objectives.............................................................................................................................. 14
Sources.................................................................................................................................. 15
Details of the Problem........................................................................................................... 15

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CAUSES ....................................................................................................................................... 15
Mental and Emotional Illness ............................................................................................... 15
Marginality and Bullying...................................................................................................... 17
A Never Ending Debate ........................................................................................................ 17
SOLUTION................................................................................................................................... 18
Solution................................................................................................................................. 18
A Shooter Drill……………………………………………………………………………...20
Business as Usual.................................................................................................................. 22
Qualifications........................................................................................................................ 22
Costs...................................................................................................................................... 23
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................. 23
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 23
Recommendation .................................................................................................................. 24
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 25

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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
July 28, 2013
School Board of Trustees
Antelope Valley Unified Elementary School District
44711 North Cedar Avenue
Lancaster, CA 93534
Dear Board of Trustees,
There is pressing issue at the hearts of all communities in the United States. The Antelope
Valley is no exception. It needs to be brought to your attention. What you read below may
shock you. Please try to put yourself or another family member in the same situation. The
following are the minutes from an actual 911 call which aired on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight:
Operator: “911. Where is your emergency?” Caller: “We just had a shooting at our school. We
need to get out of here. Oh my God!” Operator: Okay. Ma’am? We got s school shooting.
Ma’am? What school?” Caller: “Sandy Hook Elementary.” Operator: “Sandy Hook
Elementary?” Caller: “Yes Ma’am. Everyone is running away, trying to get away.” Operator:
“Where is the gunman now?” Caller: “I do not know.”
Imagine that you were this caller on the scene of this senseless school shooting. The fear for
your own life, for your own children growing up without a parent, or the fear for children around
you in the school may be going through your mind. In a Gallop poll conducted in 2000, twenty-
six percent of American parents feared for their children’s safety at school (Newman, Fox,
Harding, & Roth, 2004). It seems absolutely terrifying. Is this something that you are willing to
chance occurring in your district? Do any of you have children in the Antelope Valley’s
elementary schools? An understanding of what occurred is critical.
According to Peter Langman (2009) a rampage school shooting “occurs when students or former
students attack their own schools”. Furthermore these attacks can target certain people however
in most cases victims are shot randomly or symbolically in the view of others. These tragedies
could have been possibly prevented. The causes of these murders are too large for our society to
handle at the present time in our history. There is a plausible solution to put in place now.

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Problem Overview
Some of our youngest children in the Antelope Valley are left unprotected in the school
environment. We have no idea where or when the next rampage school shooting will occur. We
have no clue when or if some children or adults will snap mentally. These are real dangers
Americans face from isolated rampages, the deranged mentally ill, and unsupervised guns in the
house next door (Scheper-Hughes, 2013). Scheper-Hughes highlights another huge problem
which is the accessibility of guns all over the country to those who become emotionally or
mentally unhinged. We cannot stop these incidents from occurring however we can give our
youngest children a lifeline and protection.
Background
Most children go to school expecting to feel safe in the learning environment. However this is
far from true for some. According to a 2009 survey, seventeen percent of students surveyed
reported carrying a weapon on their person in the last month. Furthermore six percent stated
they had done so while on campus at their school (Hahn, Payne, & Lucas, 2013). It is
frightening that six percent of children in this poll possibly carried a loaded gun to school.
Solution
According to Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. of Harvard University a democracy is “The fairest
way to organize a society that anyone in human history has ever conceived and realized” (Miller
& Jensen, 2004). In a true democracy then should it not be that society keep its vulnerable
members safe from those that would cause them harm? We should protect our children in our
local elementary schools with armed security by contracting a private firm or the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department.
Method
The method used to implement this proposal is simple. You have two avenues of approach to
choose from. First you could hire a private security firm to patrol your campuses. Although this
method may be cheaper than the alternative, I profess that trained police are more trustworthy,
reliable, and effective. Secondly you can look to the models the high schools employ contracting
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to patrol their campuses. Inside this proposal, I hope
to convince you to do so.
Budget
The cost to implement this proposal is infinitesimal compared to the size of each district’s
budget. The following are annual estimates:
 The majority of costs would be for deputy salaries. Estimate: $3 million.
 Each school would need a one-time upgrade of its security camera monitoring system (if
needed). Estimate: $25,000 for each upgrade.
 Security monitoring systems at each school would require a monitor/dispatcher trained by
the Sheriff’s Department. Estimate: $33,000 for each school.

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Conclusion
If we forget all of these incidents like the Sandy Hook and Columbine murders then were failing
to adequately protect our children. We cannot get comfortable nor can we pretend past incidents
never happened. Although there is no way to stop all rampage school shootings, there are
actions we can take to prevent them.
There is no comprehensive federal policy on gun control. Each state has its own laws and some
are lax. All one has to do is go to another state to obtain guns if necessary. In his own words
New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (2013) told Piers Morgan of CNN, “Patchwork
approaches will not work. It is a reality of life.” We cannot wait for the state or federal
government to enact an effective approach. They are hampered by political bickering, interest
groups, and greed.
I agree with David Wheeler, a parent who lost his son in the Sandy Hook tragedy. He stated in
an interview on 60 Minutes “It is going to happen again. It is going to happen again. Every
time, you know, it is somebody else’s school. It is somebody else’s town. It is somebody else’s
community. Until one day you wake up and it is not” (Eurweb, 2013). We cannot control what
happens behind the doors of every home in America. We are not ready to tackle mental illness
and other social problems. Plain and simple, we must act now to prevent any future murders of
innocent children in the Antelope Valley.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. Families with children in your schools
are depending on you to put this plan into action.
Best regards,
William Kirk

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GRAPH
Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 People by Country
Figure 1:
Source: http://www.gunpolicy.org

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TABLES
School Shooting Deaths in the U.S. by Year, 1992–2007

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School Shooting Deaths in the U.S. by Year, 2008–2012

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APPENDIX
Appendix A: Survey
Survey of 50 Antelope Valley Residents on Guns and School Security
Given on Saturday April 27th, 2013 at Marie Kerr Park in Palmdale, California
1. Are you aware of any school safety measures to protect your children at their school?
Answer: Yes 10%
No 90%
2. With the recent spike in school shootings around the nation, are you concerned at all for
the safety of your children while at school?
Answer: Yes 74%
No 26%
3. Do you own a firearm in your home?
Answer: Yes 48%
No 42%
4. Have any of your children ever reported being bullied at school or witnessing a bullying
incident?
Answer: Yes 40%
No 60%
5. Whether you own guns or not, would you support employing trained armed security
personnel at the elementary school in your neighborhood?
Answer: Yes 70%
No 10%
Undecided 20%

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Appendix B: Interview
Below you will find the interview with Mark Bryant, assistant superintendent of the Antelope
Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD) in its entirety:
What is the overall budget of your district? I estimate that the overall spending for the district
would be approximately $170 million dollars.
How much of this budget of $170 million dollars is spent on security at the campuses? I
have no estimate on the overall dollar amount that is spent on total security as a whole. I can tell
you that as far as security personnel, the district has a contract with the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department worth $1.3 million dollars annually.
Are these armed deputies and if so how many of them per campus? Yes. Actual deputies
that are armed and I believe that each high school has six to eight deputies. We have had
deputies on our campuses for some fifteen to twenty years now.
What do these deputies do during school hours to ensure safety? Deputies patrol the
hallways making rounds to ensure students are where they should be. At all times there is
someone monitoring the security camera station at all times during school hours. Our deputies
try to establish good relationships with students and teachers.
Is there any control over who enters the school grounds? Well, at the start of the school day
and when it is time to go home deputies are stationed at the entrances. If students leave campus
they have to be signed in and out by a parent or designated guardian. Other kids have special
circumstances when they are allowed around campus without supervision.
Are there any other security measures that are taken? Some of the campuses have security
cameras and all of them have fences.
Some people believe that having police or armed security personnel at schools impedes
student’s freedom and promotes fear. I disagree. In light of recent events in this country,
what is your opinion on this? Like I said, we have had armed deputies for over fifteen years
and there has never been a claim from a student or parent of impeding our student’s education.
The kids and the parents appreciate it. Safety has never been an issue.
Do you feel, as I do, that children and teachers have right to be safe in school? I think
everybody has the right to be safe no matter where you are. At home, at the grocery store, the
mall, or in school children certainly have the right to be safe in the school environment.
Is there anything else youwould like to add that you think might be relevant to this topic?
School security is an ongoing issue and practice that our schools try to take an active part in
especially in regards to proper procedure. When incidents do occur, a fight for example, parents
are notified and after actions reports are conducted to ensure our procedures were done properly.
Every Monday there are meetings with the deputies and school staff. We have to be diligent in
how we respond to these incidents.

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INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT
Background
Regardless of how one feels about them, guns are a part of the fabric of American society and an
integral part of the American ideals of freedom and constitutional rights. For years now the gun
debate has raged on with its supporters who want their guns with no restrictions to those of us
who want to control with maximum restrictions. Lost in the evaluation of this dichotomy, are the
causes and effects of gun-related violence against our children in schools.
The Problem
It is important to look at the bigger picture here, safe and effective institutions of learning for our
children, who are the future of humankind with the fate of not only their future but future
generations to come. In order to achieve the goals and necessary advancements laid on their
shoulders, they need to feel and be safe in their learning environment at school. This is also
necessary in order for teachers to be effective educators. Is this a reasonable perspective?
Woodrow Wilson once said to Congress “We have a duty to make the world safe for
democracy.” Similarly, we have a duty to keep our younger children safe at school. Are they
not the future of this region? The students in Antelope Valley’s elementary schools should be
protected by armed personnel just as the children in our high schools are.
Solution
Your cohorts in the Antelope Valley Union High School District took the necessary actions years
ago to ensure that the students in their schools would be safer from gun violence. Why has the
Antelope Elementary School District not done the same? The murder of innocent children at
school is nothing new in this country. Although some experts will tell you it is rare, which is
true for the most part, however the spike in recent years has stirred outrage and action in many
areas of the country. Armed security at our elementary school is a must.
Inaction could be Costly
There are many situations that would cause students to make the decision to bring firearms to
school and murder others. This proposal covers a range of social issues that would cause this to
happen. Some of which you may think irrelevant. Most of the assailants in the literature I have
read did not feel the same way, even over the smallest amount of teasing. My point here is that
we as a society are not yet serious about tackling such vast social issues. The costs in human
capital and money are simply to staggering to fathom. This leads our politicians and
administrators, such as you, to kick the can down the road and let someone else worry about it.
Are the members of this board going to simply kick the can and wait for another massacre like
the one at Sandy Hook in Connecticut to occur here? We are not ready to cure social ills, you
must act now!
Benefits
There are too many guns in this society and too many irresponsible gun owners. We cannot stop
them from falling into the hands of troubled people, even children. The gun debate will not be
figured out any time soon. Right now the best way to keep our schools safe is to fight fire with
fire! This plan to integrate armed security in your district is already in place. Simply look at the

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high schools here for an efficient model. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
provides enough deputies at a reasonable cost. Consider the alternative, dead children, dead
teachers, a divided community, and families that are forever shattered. The benefits of acting
now are substantial. Potential lawsuits could drag out for years. Younger children would move
on to high school and then hopefully to college. You board members will be following in the
steps other courageous officials around the nation. Putting armed security in your schools will
help you sleep at night. The benefits far outweigh any costs. Armed security will not stop all
killings however I can tell you the parents and communities of those killed would have wanted
this chance for the children and teachers they still love.
INTRODUCTION
Statement of the Problem
Many Americans are missing their confidence because our society is out of control. Our children
are vulnerable anywhere they go. At school you would think our younger children are safe from
harm. How many of us drop our children off at school or the bus stop and say “Have a good day
at school, see you later when I pick you up” or “See you when you get home?” I do it almost
daily. Now I worry if my child will make it through the day without his parents there to watch
over him.
We need to retool. Every school in this country whether it be a college campus, high
school, elementary school, or preschool needs to take the steps to provide armed personnel to
protect our most vulnerable members of society. As you see in Figure 1, the United States has
the most guns in the world. In recent years children have been murdered at school by other
people, including other children.
People on the rim of marginality and mental illness have murdered children to make
statements of their own private pain. In April of 1999 two teenaged students entered Columbine
High School and murdered fifteen people, most of them other children (Cole, Cole, & Lightfoot,
2005). They used automatic weapons and homemade bombs to take lives before taking their
own. I have watched some of the videos of this massacre. Any loving parent would cringe in
horror at the thought of their children having to go through such an experience.
The murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 14, 2012 sent shock waves
through the very foundation of any family with small children. This senseless massacre
resonates with me, as it should you too. Twenty-six people, most of them six or seven years old
died on this day. Many shot multiple times (Shermer, 2013). As I watched the parents and
spouses of these loved ones lost during an interview, I cried with them. They spoke of loved
ones gone. Their lives and community are forever broken. They suffer in anguish every day
because of their loss. You have to act to prevent this from happening to any family in our
community.
Objectives
This proposal serves multiple purposes. The first objective is to examine the current rise in the
number of school shootings in which innocent children are murdered. Secondly it gives you a

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taste of the debate on gun control in the United States. As you all may know, there are those
who want to keep gun ownership rights in check and others who favor lax gun laws or no
restrictions at all. Thirdly it looks at the social problems that may cause some children to
become murderers, for example mental health issues. Next I discuss some actions taken by
politicians and administrators so far. I opine that while these steps are noteworthy, they are not
the most viable long-term solutions.
I hope to use examples from around the country to make you realize the shooting of
young children at school in the Antelope Valley are incidents that can be minimized or even
prevented by employing armed security personnel at our elementary school campuses.
Sources
The data used to assemble this proposal come from a variety of reputable sources. Most notable
is a book by Karen S. Newman of Harvard University and her associates from Princeton, Yale,
and the University of California, San Diego whose book concerns case studies about rampage
school shootings in small communities in the states of Kentucky and Arkansas. Also used were
college textbooks, reputable Internet websites, EBSCOHOST (a collegiate academic database),
quotations from professional experts and citizens, statistics, observations, newspapers, a survey,
television interviews and newscasts, an experiment, interviews with an administrator and
teachers, and opinions.
Details of the Problem
Some experts would interpret the statistics differently from my point of view. They would
attempt to convince you that certain media outlets portray rampage school shootings as rare
occurrences and that we should not protect children to the maximum (See Figure 2). However if
you look at the most recent statistics taken in the last five years (See Figure 3), one only needs
simple math skills to see that these incidents are on the rise. Rampage school shootings are a
reality and the social ills that cause them will not be fixed. Let us now peek inside the sociology
of why some children kill.
CAUSES
Mental and Emotional Illness
In the literature used to write this proposal it is quite obvious that mental and emotional illness is
more the prevalent in every known case since we started studying rampage school shootings. In
a study done by the Secret Service it was determined “that only that only one-third of the
offenders had ever received a mental health evaluation and less than one-fifth had been
diagnosed with a mental health or behavior disorder prior to the shootings” (Newman, Fox,
Harding, & Roth, 2004). In most of these cases none of the parents and teachers knew that these
children suffered from emotional illness. Although some had what were discipline issues at
times, these shooters fell through the cracks in the system. Teachers passed on the problem to
teachers at the next level. Only the extremely troubled students that interrupted school
functioning received services needed, such as counseling. As the old saying goes, the squeaky
wheel gets the oil.

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Treating mental and emotional illness over a large geographic and socioeconomic
expanse does not come easy, if at all. The initial obstacle is recognizing a potential problem
before it begins. These shooters were not getting into fights all the time. Some of their behavior
was shrugged off as normal adolescent behavior. Some of the parents of the shooters did little to
nothing to ensure their sons were doing okay.
The parents of Michael Carneal, the Heath, KY school shooter, were attorneys and
respected members of their community. The community was under the notion that there was no
way the son of prominent people could do such carnage. They were blinded by their small town,
tight knit attitude. Michael was not supposed to mentally ill. His parents had insurance and
more than means to get him psychological counseling. However, like many parents, they
worked long hours and their son was left by himself too often. Mental health counseling on the
lower end of the social strata is a fantasy for most on bottom rungs.
Mental health treatment, as wonderful and healing as it can be, is not available to us all
for a variety of reasons. Geographic location is one the first things that come to mind. In our
larger cities and suburbs you will find numerous mental health clinicians available, and many
schools do have them. However schools that do have them often do not have enough. In our
small town and rural localities you may not find any of these clinicians. Treatment for many is a
matter of economics. Do you have insurance or pay out of pocket every time your child needs
counseling? Some simply cannot afford either.
In today’s economy, many Americans are struggling just to keep the basic necessities
such as the electricity on. Furthermore, many health insurance companies do not include mental
health services with their policies. Looking at the bigger picture here, even if families and
politicians were serious about treating the mentally ill it seems almost impossible to do on such
grand scale. Those lucky enough to have jobs that offer health insurance for their children will
get the help their kids need. Certainly the wealthy will obtain services. The poor and
disadvantaged will be left to suffer and take chances at every turn when mental health is
concerned. There is also a stigma that comes along with receiving mental health services among
the general population.
I myself once had the perception that those receiving mental health were “just crazy.”
After becoming a patient myself for my personal failures and issues, I know the value of mental
health treatment. There is almost nothing better one can do for oneself than to receive mental
health counseling. Unfortunately, this country is not ready to get serious about its citizen’s
mental health. Mental health is put at the back of the agenda. Issues such as war and corporate
welfare seem to be more important than taking care of our families in need. Indeed a tragedy in
itself. In today’s society our social problems, environmental emergencies, and economic issues
are on the cusp of urgent.
Unfortunately these dire issues, with mental health getting the lowest priority, will not be
taken with the seriousness they deserve until they are on the verge of tipping over. The financial
costs alone along with weariness to launch such a large-scale policy would be obstacles many
communities fear. Mental and emotional illnesses themselves have a variation of causes.

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According to Newman, Fox, Harding, & Roth (2004) “Few school shooters are diagnosed
with mental illnesses before their crimes.” Do we really think that mental illness is going to be
looked at seriously in the near future? I doubt it. Are you going to turn schools into mental
health facilities? Even if you wanted to it is not going to happen. Now I take you from the
comfort of your own lives and into the lives of those pulling the trigger to attempt to know why
they decided to murder others.
Marginality and Bullying
Children that grow up on the fringes of marginality face different obstacles than those of socially
accepted children. It does not matter if you are in the inner city, suburb, or rural farm town,
socioeconomic status and mental illnesses know no boundaries. While reading about the
shooters from Columbine and Heath, I looked back on some of my childhood experiences.
I grew up in a small rural area of southwest Alabama. One thing true about the South is when
they call it the Bible belt, God and guns are at the core of the conservative ideals in these states.
Growing up in the South I had access to guns. Hunting for food and sport is very
common there. I even had my own twelve gauge shotgun at my grandfather’s house. Many of
my uncles had guns hanging on gun racks in their trucks and bedrooms, unlocked and easily
accessible. I believe the biggest difference is I had a parent that listened to my feelings and
talked to me about the issues that were causing me emotional pain. However the fact is not
every child gets this attention. Not every family has that ability to do so.
In our society there will always be those children on the outside looking in.
Unfortunately poverty and guns will persist in our society. Bullying has been looked at in the
past, and in most schools it is considered a normal part of growing up for our children. This too
will likely continue in our schools until positive mental health is seen as a priority. These social
problems will not be corrected any time in the near future if ever.
A NeverEnding Debate
According to one documentary journalist “There are over two-hundred million guns in
circulation in this country and as many as forty-seven percent of American households report
that they keep a firearm in their home (Larsen, 2008). That is massive number of guns. Does
this number even include the illegal guns and gun owners who are not registered? According to
Face the Nation’s Bob Schieffer sixty percent of the murders in NYC are caused by handguns
and six million weapons were sold without background checks in 2012. Why do we have so
many guns in our homes and why do we allow these “easy access” weapons to be sold?
You can see how gun ownership among citizens in the United States compares to the rest
of the world in Figure 1. It is also now secret that in recent years with gun control being a hot
topic issue, that citizens have obtained more and more guns. Pawn shops, sporting goods stores,
and weapons distributors sell their guns just as fast as manufacturers can ship them out. There
are hundreds of millions of guns in this country. Many of which are unaccounted for. How does
the Antelope Valley size up to the average in the United States?

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According to Palmdale resident Larry Topper (personal communication, June 28, 2013)
“There should be deputies in the local elementary schools. The high schools already have them.
Some people say these little kids would be afraid because guns would be present. I say that is
bull crap. For example, kids go to the bank with their parents and see guards with guns. It is
commonplace enough. They do not freak at the site of guns.” Furthermore he added “Here in
California they are releasing criminals because of budget cuts. These Democrats in the
legislature just let loose about ten thousand of them that will be getting guns illegally if they
want to. Law abiding citizens with guns are not the problem.”
Indeed it seems our youngest children are in need of protection in the school environment
now more than ever before. I believe this sample of residents indicates what the community as a
whole would wish for (See Appendix A). Nationally, some interest groups are calling for armed
security at our schools as well.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is an influential lobby and advocate in the United
States that is now calling for armed guards in every school. In an interview with CNN’s Piers
Morgan NRA Chief Executive Officer Wayne Lapierre stated, “If it is crazy to call for putting
police and armed security in our schools, then call me crazy. I will tell you what the American
people think, it is crazy not to do it.” Although I am not a fan of the NRA’s polices, I have to
agree with him.
Even as the tragedies involving the deaths of our children at school keep piling up, some
security experts disagree on placing armed guards in our schools. I myself am not a gun
enthusiast nor am I against guns. I am on the side of keeping children and staff safe at our
learning institutions. Furthermore, I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment.
SOLUTION
Solution
The security of our children is not a single-shot endeavor. Indeed it is a long-term investment
and responsibility. One could say that it is necessary in order for our society to thrive and endure,
even for the survival of the human species. Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa
once said this regarding children in societies "There can be no keener revelation of a society's
soul than the way in which it treats its children” (MEC, 2013). Our children are our most
valuable resource, the future of humanity, and should be treated as so by every generation.
Marsha Blackburn, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from
Tennessee believes “We need to make certain we keep children safe.” Teachers she has spoken
to think that we need to look at some of the root causes, mental health being on the forefront.
She adds “Some school districts are looking at school resource officers and how they secure that
environment” (Politicsusa.com, 2013). Blackburn is one politician ready for action, not more
dead children and empty words.
As you can see this type of proposal is being looked at by many officials all over the
country. Please do not wait till it is too late and come out on the losing end of lawsuits because

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you failed to act in time to prevent deaths. This investment alone is worth the savings in millions
of dollars of taxpayer money lost in possible lawsuits. The executive and legislative branches of
our government have some ideas also.
President Barack Obama gave an inspirational and deeply moving speech recently on
specific policies to make us safer and reduce the gun violence. California Democrats have
already started pushing for a ban on the sale of assault weapons and extended ammunition clips
which California's Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced later in the same week as the President’s
speech. The president's plan is comprehensive. It includes:
 requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales;
 reinstating the assault weapons ban;
 restoring a 10-round limit on ammunition magazines;
 eliminating armor-piercing bullets;
 providing mental health services in schools;
 allocating funds to hire more police officers;
 instituting of a federal gun trafficking statute, among other policies.
Source: John Burton, CADem.org, California Democratic Party (2013)
These policies, if passed and enforced, will help curb gun violence. Furthermore they
will make it difficult for criminals to gain access to firearms. However, they will not help
protect young children at our local elementary schools from those determined to kill.
Janice Hahn, a former Los Angeles City Councilwoman, said gun violence is "all too
familiar" to her communities. "We've been to too many funerals. We have seen the endless, easy
death that guns bring to our streets, our homes and our schools," said Hahn. She ended this
response by saying "Congress needs to act and I hope we move immediately on the President's
proposals” (Bradley & Edwards, 2013). The problem here is persuading politicians and
administrators to implement the precautions addressed in this proposal.
What will it take to convince local, state, and federal legislators to act and put proper
armed personnel elementary schools? Will it take their children or grandchildren being shot or
murdered? Just imagine your local delegate to Congress getting a phone call from a school
representative or policeman informing him or her that a shooting occurred at their child’s school.
Would they take action afterwards? What would your reaction be? Would it be the most
terrifying experience of your life?
We will not prevent all violence in our schools however we can attempt to be certain that
it does not happen on our watch. According to Lebrun (2009) in 2003 the U.S. Department of

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Homeland Security gave recommendations to assist in protecting soft targets such as schools and
hospitals. What do you think was the most obvious of those cited? Exactly, points three and
four of the report were to increase security personnel and roving security personal and vary their
routes and times.
This proposal is not asking you to perform magic tricks such as pulling rabbits out of
hats. No one wants to see children or school employees lying in a pool of blood. The point here
is to be prepared in an effective and efficient manner. Just recently at a California high school,
we saw what having an armed policeman assigned to a campus could do to save lives.
At Granite Hills High School in El Cajon California, a disgruntled student began his
attack with a shotgun blast through a window. Officer Rich Agundez, assigned to the school,
used his training and skills to confront the assailant and used his weapon to immobilize him
before he could gain entrance to the school and cause harm to anyone else with a second weapon
stored in a backpack (Margasak, 2012). To the parents whose children attend this school, I
would guarantee the cost is nothing compared to the actions of Officer Agundez. His actions
likely saved the lives of innocent children. There are other measures being taken also, but are
they enough?
A Shooter Drill
In response to the increase in school shootings in which children of all ages are being murdered,
many schools are taking measures to prevent deaths. This is happening at every level in the
education system, from elementary schools to universities. One of these measures is called an
active shooter drill.
I would like to share with you my own personal experience with an active shooter drill. I
recently transferred from a local community college here in the Antelope Valley, Antelope
Valley College. During the most recent semester an active shooter drill was held on campus
during a Philosophy class I was in. As board members and supervisors, do any of you have any
ideas about what might have occurred during this event? Try to put yourself in this scenario
while at the same time keep in your minds what you do know about the killings at, for example,
Columbine High School or Sandy Hook Elementary.
The professor informed us that there would be an active shooter event at the preselected
time of 10:00 a.m. At the designated time the instructor and the class members would take the
following actions:
 Turn off all the lights.
 Lock the classroom doors.
 Close all windows and blinds.
 No one was to speak and no noise made at all.
 Do not open the doors until given the all clear by the proper authority with a phone call.
I would like to describe this experience to you exactly as I observed it. At the designated
time the instructor turned out the lights and locked the door to the classroom. Approximately
two minutes later there was a loud banging on the door and someone attempted to enter by

21. 21
turning the handle. A couple of students in the class started talking about their next class. So
much for silence as instructed. I would say some students did not take this drill seriously. The
phone call for the all clear never came. The instructor decided the drill was over and back to the
lecture we went. What exactly, if anything did this drill accomplish?
This drill was meaningful and drills like this need to become common place in our
schools just as they have natural disaster drills. However it is my opinion this is not enough to
stop a determined shooter who may be mentally ill and bent on killing people. This drill was
nothing more than some feeble, band aid attempt to satisfy some new directive or policy from the
state or other higher up authority. There is no doubt that students and teachers need to know
what actions to take if a shooting takes place. However a sick person determined to kill will
shoot the door or windows out and get into that classroom or cafeteria and attempt to kill others.
Although these type of drills are needed, they simply are not enough ensure student’s lives are
not in danger.
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s department does have deputies on the AVC campus.
And as stated above the high schools in the Antelope Valley have them also. So why is it that at
our elementary schools all we have are chain linked fences and teachers at the front gates? Are
these protections enough to keep our children safe? I decided that it was time to test these so
called protections. I decided to do an experiment.
Just how secure are your elementary schools in the Antelope Valley? You are about to
find to find out from my firsthand experience. I decided to scope out a few of your elementary
schools. No I am not a student or employee however not all school shooters are. My
observations were made on the same variables. I chose a school and picked a Monday morning
to do my experiment.
I parked my car down the street from the school. I was dressed in slacks and a pullover
dress shirt. I looked as normal as the next person. I carried with me a briefcase which I had
placed some random personal items, some containing metal. At approximately 9:10 a.m. I
approached the open front gate of the school and quietly walked into the front doors of the
school. There was no one there to meet or stop me. I went through the front doors as if I
belonged there. I proceeded past the offices and into the school. No one even saw me or cared if
they did. I left the school without even a hello from anyone there. I could have been a person
intent on killing people. I hope all of you are in disbelief at this point. I thought it best to talk to
some local teachers to find out their opinions on this matter.
I thought it essential to obtain the opinions of some teachers in your district on this issue.
The teachers that I interviewed via email were mostly of the same consensus. It was their
opinion that their campuses lacked adequate security because of budget limitations. Each teacher
stated they would be comfortable with armed police or SRO’s on their campus (personal
interview, March 16, 2013). It saddened me to hear from these teachers that money meant more
to the administration than the lives of children and teachers.

22. 22
Business as Usual
Armed security and police are nothing new in the life of Americans and their children. Almost
everywhere they go they can see this in their daily lives. As stated above by Mr. Bryant,
students are getting along just fine with the presence of sheriff deputies on campus. The students
at these schools do not attend classes under a blanket of expected fear that these officers will be
hawking them or shaking down their lockers. Most thrive and do not worry about not going
home because they have been shot. School is not the only place children see the presence of
police officers with guns on their side.
Our children see armed police officers at a variety of other places. The malls in this
country are a good example. Does the presence of armed security or police officers at the mall
put the fear violence in children? Does it stop them from wanting to go to the mall shopping at
the Gap store or see a movie at the I-max theatre or from hanging out with their friends at the
food court? Absolutely not! Just ask any father of a teenager who forks over a few twenty dollar
bills any given Saturday night. How many of you have ever heard of any kids who run up to
their parents saying “I am so scared to go the mall. There are armed police officers and security
guards walking around with loaded guns!” I would now like to share a recent experience I had
while traveling.
Recently I flew on a commercial airline to visit family in another state. As most of you
know, flying out of a large metropolitan airport is tedious and can be frustrating under certain
circumstances. Los Angeles World Airports (LAX) is one of the largest in the United States. As
I approached the line for the process of going through the airport scanning machines, I saw many
children of all ages. Here as in all airports we see armed personnel. Can you imagine what may
be going through a child’s mind here? I can assume not the reassurance of a concerned parent in
the presence of these protective measures. However I would bet the farm that fear of traveling
through the airport in the presence of armed police officers was the furthest thing on the minds of
these children.
The above situations are evidence that show us that having trained armed personnel in a
child’s environment in no way impedes their growth, social skills, or education. Although the
hype hypothesis, which states that armed personnel at our schools is an overreaction to a few
isolated incidents does have some merit, the potential benefits of having armed security or police
officers at our schools to just one child’s future far outweighs any criticism of costs.
Qualifications
Although my current educational and professional qualifications are not impressive, I do feel
they are noteworthy of where I am headed with my academic goals and professional career. I
obtained an Associate’s of Arts from Antelope Valley College concentrating in Social and
Behavioral Science where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. I am a current student at a California
State University where I hope to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology concentrating in
Urban Planning. It is true that I have little experience professionally however my experience
with family life and personal growth is respectable. Also I have a dog in this fight. My ten year
old son attends one of the elementary schools in Lancaster.

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Costs
I know the big question on your minds. What is this going to cost? I do have an estimate for
you. During a recent interview (See Appendix B) Mark Bryant stated the overall budget for the
AVUHSD is approximately $170 million with approximately $1.3 million slated for security at
its campuses. According to its website the AVUHSD has fourteen campuses. According to Mr.
Bryant, his numbers do not add up to what my research found. That is unless the Sheriff’s
Department is operating this contract at a huge loss.
Let’s compare his numbers to the numbers of Los Angeles County. According to the
LACSD web site an entry level sheriff’s deputy earns wages of $4,702 monthly (lacsdhq, 2013).
Take Mr. Bryant’s number of $1.3 million, divide that by fourteen campuses and you get
$92,857 spent per campus. Then divide $92,857 by his lower number of six deputies and that
gives you $15,476 yearly per deputy. These numbers do not match the county salary listing.
Take the County’s salary of $4,702, multiply by six deputies, and you get $28,212, multiply by
approximately ten months of the school year: $282,120 yearly on deputy’s salary alone at one
school. My numbers seem more accurate. So what is your estimate?
According to both district websites there are thirty-two elementary schools in the
Palmdale and Lancaster districts. I have seen quite a few of them and know the sizes of the
campuses are not as large as the high schools. I propose posting two deputies per campus plus a
monitor for the security system. Using the same formulas as above the total equals
approximately $3 million dollars yearly. This estimate covers both districts. You can afford
take these actions!
According to both district’s 2011-2012 budget report the district had income of
approximately $100 million dollars in Lancaster district (McClatchey & Smith, 2011). In the
Palmdale district this number is approximately $146 million (Shepard, 2011). Add these up to
get $246 million. Furthermore California governor Jerry Brown recently signed AB97, a bill
which will distribute $2.1 billion in extra money to underperforming school districts (Williams,
2013). Of which I am almost sure both of our districts will receive a portion.
CONCLUSION
Conclusion
At this point in the history of our species, society as a whole is not ready to tackle the social ills
that plague us. Many of us are not teaching, not showing, and not telling our children the moral
path to travel in life. We are not leading by example and our children are paying the price. The
violent behaviors being taken up by bullied and marginal students do not simply appear in their
minds. They see it in the media and in their own lives. It grows like a cancer and some children
see it as a way out. We are a have and have not society and unless we make enormous moral
leaps, it will be this way until the extinction of our species. Rampage shootings will not stop.
For those on the fringes of youth and rationality, it is their way of fighting back. We must make
our schools safe for our children.

24. 24
Some experts say that school shootings are few, one in a million. Go to Newtown,
Connecticut or Littleton, Colorado and say that to the families that lost loved ones. Imagine the
response that you may get? Put yourself in the place of those parents whose children were
murdered because they were not properly protected. Many experts agree with recommendations
of this proposal.
Many experts concur that current gun control laws and proposals are not enough to keep
children safe. In an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan, Northwestern University Criminologist
Dr. James Fox notes “Mass murderers will do whatever they need to do to get a weapon no
matter what we put in their way. If you expect that this will prevent the next Sandy Hook from
occurring and I hear people saying that you will be bitterly disappointed.” Again here is another
expert stating that rampage school shootings are inevitable.
Our schools should be that safe haven that our children can go for education and learning
that is free of crime and violence (Lebrun, 2009). When children arrive at school they have a
sense of trust and respect for the school system they are members of, at least they should. There
is a covenant between school systems, the children, and families. Unfortunately that covenant is
in danger if not already broken. I urge to you to act to help repair this trust.
Recommendation
Both cities in the Antelope Valley can afford to take action. You must post armed personnel in
our elementary schools. It is the best way to guarantee the community’s educational investment
and the futures of our youngest children.

25. 25
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Burton, J. (2013, April 18). CADem.org. Retrieved from CADem.org:
http://www.cadem.org/news/press?id=0172
Cole, M., Cole, S., & Lightfoot, C. (2005). The development of children. New York: Worth
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Hahn, D. B., Lucas, E. B., & Payne, W. A. (2013). Focus on health . New York: McGraw-Hill .
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Larsen, K. (Director). (2008). Guns in America [Motion Picture].
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McClatchey, M., & Smith, L. (2011). 2011-2012 Adopted budget. Lancaster: Lancaster
Elementary School District.

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mec.cuny.edu. (2013, March 13). Retrieved from mec.cuny.edu:
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more