Debate Paper
Melissa McCarthy
BCOM 275
October 20, 2013
Kimberly Boyd

Debate Paper
Whether or not armed security guards should be in schools has been a debate for years but has really been brought into the limelight since the most recent tragedies of Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook. The supporters of having armed security in our school districts believe that it is a needed layer of security and helps to diminish response time if necessary while keeping children, parents and teachers feeling safer to be in school. The ones against having guns in the schools believe that we have had armed guards in schools and it did nothing to stop it. They also believe that the cost is too high while also …show more content…

(Asa Hutchinson) cited a 1997 Mississippi incident in which an assistant principal ran to his truck to retrieve a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and subdued a gunman who had already shot two students (Stolberg).” New legislation would allow armed teachers, staff members, or on-duty patrols to respond if a situation were to occur.” “The (National Rifle Association's) model legislation would lift restrictions on guns in schools and require specific training for school employees who choose to carry guns.” (Resmovits, 2013). In this time of uncertainty, President Barack Obama, is trying to pass stricter gun laws. “As President Obama tries to persuade a reluctant Congress to pass new gun laws, the poll found that a majority of Americans -54 percent- think gun control laws should be tightened, up markedly from a CBS News poll last April that found that only 39 percent backed stricter laws.” (Cooper and Sussman, 2013). There is much speculation this increase could be as a result of the Newtown shooting. Meaning people are seeking security, parents are worried for their children, and there is widespread fear of a situation like Newtown ever happening again. Which brings us back to our controversial view, why is having an armed guard important? Having an armed guard might also dissuade any possible shooters from attempting to attack the school, avoiding the situation altogether. The