Inside School Shootings:
What Have We Learned?
By Tim Schmidt - USCCA Founder. December 12th 2014
As we approach the 2nd anniversary of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, I’m left with an overwhelming sense of sadness. Sadness over the tragic loss of innocent life that day...but also sadness over how few strides we’ve made since then to really make our schools any safer.
Anti-gunners seem to have no problem, still, exploiting the children of Sandy Hook—and the families of those children—in order to push forward with their agenda.
Not only are anti-gun politicians spreading the wrong message, they’re also deterring real progress from being made in schools all across the country.
On the other hand, pro-gunners have quietly continued their fight, one that involves pushing back against the pervasive attitude incited by the media and the gun control crowd.
I’m talking about the attitude that guns—rather than deranged criminals—are somehow responsible for mass tragedies like school shootings. I don’t have to tell you that we still have a long way to go.
I recently saw a glimpse of light on the horizon when I had the chance to read (and re-read) Michael Martin’s passionate, thought-provoking series in Concealed Carry Magazine. Martin examines incidents like Sandy Hook and other mass shootings from recent years to pinpoint what we know, what we’ve learned, and what MUST be done to stop the scourge of violence once and for all.
I can honestly say that Martin’s three-part series is one of the best—and certainly one of the most important—pieces I’ve ever read on the topic.
He questions whether or not a reduction in magazine capacity would have affected the outcome of any of these shootings. He examines whether or not gun-free zones are a component in the planning of these mass murders. And he asks, “Why haven’t we taken more steps toward arming responsible educators?”
Martin’s response to this last question sent chills down my spine:
He writes, “It’s because the anti-gun crowd and liberal politicians (is there a difference?) want you to believe that a physically fit teacher wearing a level III retention holster who’s been trained in weapons retention and use of force is more dangerous to your children than a school shooter who walks through the front door loaded down with multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. We need to politely disagree.”
The series is absolutely overflowing with crucial insights like this.
I think it’s so important, in fact, that I’ve decided to collect all three parts of the series and put them together in a handy PDF for you to download (if any problems with the link - you can find this file here on JPFO - 3.3MB) and forward to everyone you know. I’ll echo Michael’s suggestion that you print it out and share it with educators and administrators at your child’s school.
Unlike the anti-gunners, who prey on the emotions of a hurting nation, Michael Martin provides real, logical, and compassionate steps we can take to prevent these tragedies from happening in our schools and other places where we (and our families) are supposed to feel safe.
I’m proud to be associated with this kind of thinking, and I hope you’ll agree that there IS a way out of the darkness. I promise that this series will help you see that path more clearly.
As usual, positive change starts with good, responsibly armed Americans just like you.
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Tim Schmidt
Publisher - Concealed Carry Report
USCCA Founder