Reinforce the doors at schools

[jgradyc]

With all the ranting about gun control, arming teachers, etc, here is a partial solution to deaths from school shootings. Reinforce classroom doors and make them lockable from inside.

 

The Sandy Hook shooter killed 15 kids in one classroom and 5 more in another and at least 2 adults in those two classrooms. That's 22 of the 26 people he killed just by walking those two classrooms and opening fire. He didn't have to run through the school and find targets. He simply had to open a door and the kids were all still in their rooms.

 

He tried to get into other classrooms, but in one case, the teacher had barricading the door with a filing cabinet and he couldn't get in. If the locks were covered with a steel plate and placed at random locations on the door, it would be hard to shoot the lock off.

 

Reinforcing the door frames and hinges and then adding a heavy duty sliding clasp lock high and low on the door would effectively prevent entry into classrooms. It wouldn't prevent shootings, of course , but it's a simple, effective, and inexpensive fix over the status quo.  The deterrent value of recognizing that they couldn't inflict high casualties might cause these crazies to no longer consider schools as target rich environments.

 

Maybe we should suggest this to our legislators?  Let's discuss it here. Any loopholes in this approach? Obviously, shooters could still get in, but if teachers immediately locked their doors, casualties could be kept to a minimum or possibly avoided entirely.

Edited January 10, 2013 by jgradyc

[UncleJak]

I saw something on channel 4 about a lock that teachers can place on a door to make it un-openable.  I'm all for it.  It is not a all-in-one solution, but it is a good start.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Let's see: Moore School in Clarksville, my elementary school, had those types of doors in the early sixties. So did Greenwood

Junior High and Clarksville High, where I graduated in 1972. You mean there are schools that don't have heavy duty and very

secure doors on them still? Granted, there were doors left unattended back then and would remain open, but that was usually

because the school was too hot or too cold, not because of security reasons.

 

I think the schools need to be looked at by way of the people running them and their security measures in place. They are already

fairly secure and used to be the place used Civil Defense shelters for their community.

 

I would be looking at not having to spend more money on schools, but how we staff them with responsible people.

 

My suggestions may not apply to your situation, but Nashville spends so much, like every municipality in the state on schools,

that the stuff in schools isn't the problem but the overhead, bureaucracy, and the regiment of morons piling up debt and cost

in their communities. We need to see more responsible people there, not jails.

[GlockSpock]

I saw something on channel 4 about a lock that teachers can place on a door to make it un-openable.  I'm all for it.  It is not a all-in-one solution, but it is a good start.

 

 

http://www.countycomm.com/hydralock.html

[UncleJak]

http://www.countycom.../hydralock.html

Not the one I saw, but that works too.  The one I saw slid a bit under the door. Called a "door jam " or something like that. 

[1gewehr]

The school in CT had electronic locks and security doors on all exterior entrances.  It didn't even slow him down.  The best solution is juut to end all of the stupid 'Gun-Free Zones', and allow CCW.

[10-Ring]

^^^^^^This.  If a shooting occurs during class time it could be useful.  If the shooting occurred before, between, or after classes I don't think they would be effective.  Of course students could duck into the nearest room and lock the door if there were a gunman.  I'm certainly not opposing locks on doors.  We can't be too careful and God knows money has been spent on dumber things.  

[DaveTN]

Adding security doors is a good idea. But in most shootings the shooter would have access or someone would open the door.

 

You need to be able to stop the threat of an active shooter. The only way I know of to do that is to shoot them.

[Jesse]

so what happens when we have good security in schools and some moron whats to shoot a bunch of kids at once without armed security around?  i tell you what happens,  they jump on a bus at a bus stop and open fire inside the bus. 

 

they need to cover all bases and not just focus on school.   bad people are going to find ways to do what good people are trying to stop them from doing.  

[Guest drv2fst]

Securing schools and all other public buildings will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.  Providing paid armed security to every school and public building will cost even more.  It's absurd.  Eliminating "gun free zones" costs nothing.  Millions of law abiding citizens will be armed security for free.

 

One of the biggest problems with our government is that they always choose the most expensive solution to any perceived problem no matter how ineffective it may be.  They never even consider actually fixing the problem in a cost effective manner.  If you have any doubt ... just visit the airport.

Edited January 12, 2013 by drv2fst

[BrasilNuts]

I'm all for reinforcing the doors. I have the know how and the ability to make those changes and would gladly volunteer my time to make my 6yo sons school safer.

What do schools do when there's a fire?

My sons classroom has two doors, one that goes to the hall and one on the opposite side of the classroom that exits outside. If there was shooting in another classroom I would rather the teacher lock the hall door while the kids were hauling ass out the other door. I don't understand the "lockdown" mentality for an active shooter. I think you stand a much better chance as a moving target than you do as a fish in a barrel.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Securing schools and all other public buildings will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.  Providing paid armed security to every school and public building will cost even more.  It's absurd.  Eliminating "gun free zones" costs nothing.  Millions of law abiding citizens will be armed security for free.

 

One of the biggest problems with our government is that they always choose the most expensive solution to any perceived problem no matter how ineffective it may be.  They never even consider actually fixing the problem in a cost effective manner.  If you have any doubt ... just visit the airport.

And in this case, kids die. I wonder how much the people who actually passed the existing laws think about the results

of all their utopian crap? All it tells me is there is another reason for the nonsense, and it has nothing to do with safety.

[Slpeod]

Interestingly enough got this message from my daughters school today.

 

 

County and City Mayors, Law Enforcement pledge support for enhanced security in CMCSS elementary schools

 

Thanks to support from Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and County Mayor Carolyn Bowers, CMCSS has worked out a collaborative security support plan with Clarksville City Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.  In the plan, off-duty armed city and county law enforcement officers will be present in all elementary schools for the spring semester, beginning this month.

 

In response to the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, CMCSS administrators reviewed the current safety protocol and what might be done to enhance practices already in place.  The most immediate response taken in December was the visibility and presence of law enforcement at elementary schools in the system.

 

Director of Schools Dr. B.J. Worthington said school administrators spent the days following the school tragedy meeting with law enforcement reviewing current practices and procedures and looking at what improvements could be made both in the short term and in the long term.

 

“There was never a question of us continuing to do business as usual, even though we have had numerous external and internal reviews of our safety procedures. What happened in Connecticut changed the world’s perspective of school safety,” Dr. Worthington said.

 

CMCSS will put into place off-duty officers in all elementary schools using funds available from energy and fuel savings, as well as funds allocated for textbooks which were unspent due to an unusually lower than projected student enrollment this year.  However, the funding will be sustainable for a limited time, requiring other resources to fully fund the plan.  The plan is only in place for the spring semester since the State General Assembly has indicated possible legislation related to school safety may be forthcoming.

 

Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson emphasized: “Public safety is our number one priority and these are our children. We will certainly do what is necessary to be proactive and work to prevent a tragedy from occurring in our community.”

 

Montgomery County Mayor Bowers stated: “Even in tight budget times, we have to do what we know is right. This is a national issue and we need to work together to take care of our community. A collaborative effort in times like these is key toproviding our students and educators with a learning environment where they can feel safe.”

 

Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan said: “This is a practical response to a very challenging issue.  The only way we can increase safety in our elementary schools right now is to work together.  I appreciate the steps that CMCSS has already taken and believe we should do everything possible to protect our children.”

 

Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley added: “The Clarksville Police Department has a very positive working relationship with CMCSS and we’re proud to be a part of this program.  I fully support these efforts and will do everything I can to help keep these students safe.”

[DaveTN]

What do schools do when there's a fire?

They open the doors and run outside.(an alarm should sound) They can’t lock them to where they can’t be opened from the inside. Fire Code.

[Jesse]

Securing schools and all other public buildings will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.  Providing paid armed security to every school and public building will cost even more.  It's absurd.  Eliminating "gun free zones" costs nothing.  Millions of law abiding citizens will be armed security for free.

 

One of the biggest problems with our government is that they always choose the most expensive solution to any perceived problem no matter how ineffective it may be.  They never even consider actually fixing the problem in a cost effective manner.  If you have any doubt ... just visit the airport.

 

they spent 2 billion dollars to send the land rover to mars and look at dirt.  i think our kids are better thar dirt.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

So spend some more, even when modern schools have that stuff already built in, from the design requirements, to the architect,

to the contractor. That kind of statement should be considered only when necessary to bring it up to code.

 

But, "it's for our children". :D

 

Do you really think most of the things we are talking about don't already exist? Common sense things that wouldn't cost much

more than a dime would do just as much. This isn't about NASA. This isn't about children, either. It's an excuse to do something

that's not necessary, and possibly, no probably more tyrannical.

[BrasilNuts]

They open the doors and run outside.(an alarm should sound) They can’t lock them to where they can’t be opened from the inside. Fire Code.

 

It was really a rhetorical question.

[Guest drv2fst]

they spent 2 billion dollars to send the land rover to mars and look at dirt.  i think our kids are better thar dirt.

 

Our kids are better than dirt.  However, our kids already have enough debt piled on them by politicians and apathetic voters.  A few billion $ more MIGHT save a few but it will DEFINITELY cost all of us and them too.

 

My point is that eliminating "gun free zones" costs NOTHING and will do a better job than doors.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Why don't some of you go and see what kind of doors your schools have on them before you want to spend unnecessary taxpayer dollars

or Chinese IOU's. Schools are, for the most part, jails already. I'll bet you there are very few unsecure schools in Tennessee, and for the rest

of the nation. The only unsecure things about the schools are the buffoons who don't know how to do their job without asking for some more

money. Gun free zones removal would fix your security issues with some people inside the schools with a little common sense and preparedness.

 

They sure used to be like that. I'd be looking for some people to replace the idiots in the school system who make some of these money and

security decisions.