One of the problems in trying to secure any building from the inside, is when a second accomplice is already inside and capable on over riding security.

I applaud the efforts, and I hope the conversation about what reasonable steps can be taken continues. But this is a tactical, reactionary response, and it will really most likely do little or nothing to make a difference. First, the shooter would have to choose to enter via the spot where the guard is stationed at that moment. Second, the shooter would have to identify himself to the guard as a shooter so the guard can kill him before he has a chance to draw his weapon and kill the guard. Those two things together are exceptionally unlikely to occur. In the best case scenario, the shooter walks into the school with his gun drawn, thus immediately identifying himself as shooter, and he enters at the location where the guard is stationed. The most likely outcome in this scenario is that he will simply shoot the guard, thus reducing by one the number of bullets he has available to shoot others. Granted, this is a positive outcome with respect to the one student whose live may get spared due to the early expenditure of that first bullet. But it is not a net reduction in loss of life.

If the goal is truly to prevent shooters from entering the school, I don't think that anything short of airport-style or federal-building style security is going to work.

As I mentioned in another thread, I would support biometric lockout devices on ALL guns (including mine) so that only registered users can fire them, and only law enforcement can register someone as a user for that gun.

i wish long valley would do the same

Here's my concern.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/01/18/security-guard-forgets-gun-in-school-bathroom/

@Jersey - Wow, I hadn't heard about that situation, and thanks for sharing the link. @Mommy1 - You said you wish Long Valley would do the same - do you mean the same as Mt. Olive and Marlboro?

If I were wearing a brown shirt and UPS "looking" cap...or maybe delivering flowers for an anniversary...I could get in. Armed guards provide a false sense of protection that will actually make kids think they are the next target. This is all part of the victim world that says I have an EQUAL chance of being next. Maybe kids on the a school trip will be thrown in front of oncoming subway?? Maybe armed guards should go on school trips! Good security as stated in the article...that is tested and practiced....is more sustainable and realistic.

As someone at a recent school meeting pointed out, the current security system in our schools consists of an intercom and buzzer. Anyone who claims that he/she has an appt with a school employee or needs to drop something off, gets buzzed in and has unrestricted access to the whole school. It seems that there are a lot of improvements that can be put in place short of installing an armed guard at every school.

I agree 100%, Hookerman.

Just keep access protocols reasonable and sustainable (can be done everyday...by anyone) that don't treat every visitor as a potential killer. Remember, people rob armored cars and banks. Whether successful or not, the highly motivated are difficult to stop.

I think that the security at Sandy Hook sounded pretty reasonable, in that there was a camera so the person buzzing in visitors could both hear and see the person. The flaw was that the assailant was able to shoot through the glass. Do we go to bullet proof glass on the doors? If so, does a shooter go through the window? I don't know.

One thing I think we learned from that shooting for sure is that all teachers, including substitutes, should have the ability to lock their classroom door from the inside. I've read articles that said if the substitute teacher whose class was attacekd had been given a key to lock the door, they would have been able to protect themselves... I don't know if that's accurate reporting, but if so, it's horrifying.

That seems like a reasonable first step. There are certainly others we can take as well. Reality Chuck - your point is well-taken. We won't be able to prevent every attack short of turning our schools into mini police states. But we can get better.

I was at one of the elementary schools this week, and though I was "buzzed in" and identified myself at the front door, I watched as other parents came through the back door. No one even noticed, so I don't think any of this is making much difference. There are multiple ways to get into a school if you really want to.