Asa Hutchinson Suggests Arming NWA School Volunteers

nwa ^ | Updated: December 21, 2012 | By: Marissa Stevens

[Red Steel]

The National Rifle Association named former U.S. Congressman Asa Hutchinson as National Director of The National School Shield program. The hope is to reduce gun violence by promoting emergency response education and training.

"I think there are people in every community in this country who would be happy to serve if only someone asked them and gave them the training and certifications to do so," said Hutchinson.

During Hutchinson's speech, he brought up a particular program which is headquartered in Northwest Arkansas.

"In my home state of Arkansas, my son was a volunteer with a local group called WatchDOG dads, who volunteered their time at schools to patrol playgrounds and provide a measure of added security."

The WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program was founded in 1998, after a school shooting in Jonesboro claimed five lives.

"If it could happen in Jonesboro, it could happen in Springdale, it could happen anywhere in America... It started in Springdale but it became a national program. There are schools across the county that have this WatchDOG dad program," said Rick Schaeffer with the Springdale School District.

According to Schaeffer, volunteers undergo background checks but do not carry weapons. That, is something Hutchinson believes might change in the future.

"Armed, trained, qualified, school security personnel will be one element of that plan, but by no means the only element."

10 Springdale schools, eight elementary schools and two middle schools, already have parents protecting on campus through the WATCH D.O.G.S. program. While the district is already taking several security measures, armed volunteers is an idea Schaeffer said they are willing to listen to.

[CAluvdubya]

Many school districts already have their own functioning Police Departments. Thus the core is there with adjusting priorities.

AFAIK, police are not on any elementary school campuses (with the exception of D.A.R.E. officers maybe once a month).

I would rather have several staff/teachers armed than a solitary officer that can be planned around.

[deport]

http://www.sausd.us/Page/77

Maybe so for CA but that’s not the norm for ISD Police Department in Texas. The above link to the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I would rather have several staff/teachers armed than a solitary officer that can be planned around."

The optimum is not either/or, but "both". A roaming armed security type backed up by CCW teachers and/or staff. This throws a strong element of uncertainty into any planning by the nutcases.

[Alaska Wolf]

The optimum is not either/or, but "both". A roaming armed security type backed up by CCW teachers and/or staff. This throws a strong element of uncertainty into any planning by the nutcases.

What the liberal pinheads always fail to take into account is the fact that these mass murderers have no intention or desire to survive their attacks. Their sole intention is to kill as many people as possible before they are killed or commit suicide.