Police chief suggests storing assault rifles at school to protect students

[marmar]

An Illinois community southwest of Chicago is astir after the local police chief proposed a new method to protect students: bring more guns to school.

Plainfield Police Chief John Konopek wants officers regularly assigned to district high schools to be allowed to keep an AR 15 semi-automatic rifle under lock and key in school offices so they are better prepared to handle school shootings, if the situation were to arise.

School officers will be the only ones able to access the weapons, NBC Chicago reports. Konopek notes that training exercises have shown that officers are "much better equipped to handle this type of incident" while using a long gun -- with greater range, accuracy and stopping power -- versus a handgun.

"Unfortunately, in today's society, active shooter incidents are no longer something we see on TV," Konopek said in a statement according to the station. "They are reality." ,,,,,,,,,,,,,(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/guns-in-school-plainfield_n_1823107.html

[krispos42]

1. Carry it with them as they patrol the school grounds

If the chief wants a police state, it should be on full display.

[backscatter712]

2. What could possibly go wrong?

This brilliant plan is flawless, and couldn't possibly result in more people getting killed in crossfire...

[Zoeisright]

3. "School officials will be the only ones able to access the weapons".

Uh huh. Like I believe that. Kids get into EVERYTHING. And more guns does not equal more safety. These gun loons who think they could take out a shooter without hurting anyone else are completely delusional. And I offer the Empire State shooting as proof.

[Solly Mack]

4. That's handy! No need to purchase your own assault rifles. Just go to school

and steal theirs...then start your rampage.

[ellisonz]

5. Another gun nut...

...with a nutty proposal. How surprising?

[petronius]

6. Do school officers park patrol cars at the school, or do they have an office

at the school that they drive to in a personal vehicle? And are they regular police officers, who just happen to be assigned to the school beat?

If they're normal officers, I think they should have all the same equipment that regular patrol officers have, and if that includes a rifle it ought to be in a more secure building than in a parked car...

[jsr]

7. How about a .50 caliber machine gun?

How many bystanders do they need to spray?