The Great Debate: Solutions Part 1

So the debate centers around the question of what we can do to protect our kids from getting shot in schools.  Of course, the reality is that we really want to prevent mass shootings of anybody regardless of where they take place, but most of what follows can be considered with schools in mind.  It is my opinion that most of what can and likely should be implemented to achieve this goal does indeed include "common sense" solutions without resorting to any kind or level of "gun control"..."common sense" or otherwise.  That's because not only is it unnecessary to enact more laws and regulations on the manufacture, sales and possession of firearms, but rather because guns aren't the problem.  They never were.

So what is the problem?  Bad people, either criminal or insane, getting their hands on weapons of one kind or another and using them to murder.  The situation at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (henceforth referred to as "Parkland") points to the first point of emphasis:  adults doing their jobs. 

Due to the largest arrest numbers of juvenile offenders in the state, Broward County, FL. School Board implemented their "PROMISE" program (Preventing Recidivism through Opportunities, Mentoring, Interventions, Supports & Education).  This well-intentioned program sought to reduce the possibility of young people being burdened with a criminal record for what was often misdemeanors.  The crime rate for teens did drop, and they report 70% of those in the program did not go on to commit other crimes (I would say "not yet" is the best that they can honestly say).  But two major problems exist simply by a quick review:  1.  Arrest numbers have to drop if fewer kids committing crimes aren't having their crime reported or recorded, and 2.  The Parkland case is the second where the failures of this system led to a national news story, the first being the Trayvon Martin case.  And as in the Martin case, Nikolas Cruz was a person who should have been arrested, and had that been the case, Martin would likely be still alive and Cruz would not have been able to purchase firearms.

As this story suggests, the program puts the schools over the cops in deciding whether or not an arrest is warranted.  This is a problem if a school district is looking to improve their reputation as well as preserve their funding by keeping kids in school...maybe when a kid should instead be incarcerated.

In any case, Cruz stands as an example of the system failing in an epic manner.  It is said that many people, from fellow classmates to federal law enforcement, were aware of this kid and no arrests ever took place, even after repeated visits by local police and numerous issues while he was a student at the Parkland school.   Adults didn't do their jobs.   Indeed, some of his actions constituted felonies which would not have fallen under the plan of the PROMISE program...he should have had a criminal record or some level of psychological record that would have denied him the liberty to purchase a firearm. 

So when we really decide to dig deeply, we can see that before we talk about ANY regulations or laws, we must look first to enforcing what exists and doing those jobs as the seriousness of the ramifications dictates. 

Naturally, the "adults must do their jobs" step must be a commitment of parents as well.  This is much more difficult given how so many people reject traditional notions of right and wrong and also differing notions of what constitutes good parenting in the first place.  But at its most basic level, good parenting demands close monitoring and guidance of one's children from their earliest years  until they are legal adults.   The idea of parents as "best friends" is a dismal failure and while in my case, the relationship between my kids and myself and the missus has been as friends to a great extent, there was always a distinct line drawn about who lays down the laws and who follows them.  I've been blessed with great kids who, now as adults (with the youngest about to complete her senior year of college) though less than perfect as the best of us are, continue to make me both proud and humble with their fine, upright character.   How typical is our case is another story. 

But for some, the best efforts fail and the kids go bad, and can go bad early.  It is then that other adults, teachers, counselors, law enforcement, must do their jobs as if lives depend upon them doing so...since we've seen that lives do indeed depend upon them.

So this is the first step of the solution, but only a first step.  It is one that must be addressed before any other step is taken because without adults doing their job, no law, regulation, program or government theft of personal property (guns) or infringements upon liberties (possessing the weapons of one's choice) will make a difference.  Where the criminal or insane have the will, there's a way.  They'll find it. 

Stayed tuned.

UPDATE!!

It occurred to me that I didn't mention a thing about what to do should adults continue to fail to do their jobs and future mass shootings occur as a result.  Well, for those in positions of authority, such as law enforcement, at the very least, job loss is reasonable.  In some cases, perhaps even charges of negligent homicide might be appropriate.  There must be some threat hanging over the heads of those in whom we've put our trust...something that compels greater care in making sure the jobs are done properly given the possible tragic consequences of NOT reporting bad behaviors, or NOT transferring records of bad behaviors to others that might have need of them.  I'll be thinking more about this as this series progresses.