LET'S MARCH!
Right, let's march... let's march right to the township committee meeting this coming Tuesday night, February 20th. and find out what different, (if anything) they plan to do to make our schools in SOMA safer. Let's do something now!
What am I missing on MOL? Is there some place else on line where parents and our students are discussing where, when, and how we're going to learn what our local government, police, fire, and first responders are doing to harden the security in our schools. Let's do something now!
Based on the Florida student survivors, CALL FOR ACTION, and the March 24th,planned National Youth March to Washington, DC, I would think that the folks here in SOMA would be demanding to know what additional security measures are being taken to further protect our schools and our children. Let's do something now!
What possible reason is there to delay a TWO TOWN community meeting? What are our community leaders, and school administrators waiting for? Experience tells us the longer we wait to do something, the less chance there is of getting it done. Is there anything they need to talk about before they talk to us? Let's do something now!
If you believe our children's safety should be local government's number one priority, and there's something to be learned from Parkland, something that should be put in place immediately, then Call Vic, Call Sheena, Call your neighbors, Call your friends, Call your family, and most important speak to you kids, and see if they too believe we need to do something now...
ajc said:
Right, let's march... let's march right to the township committee meeting this coming Tuesday night, February 20th. and find out what different, (if anything) they plan to do to make our schools in SOMA safer. Let's do something now!
What am I missing on MOL? Is there some place else on line where parents and our students are discussing where, when, and how we're going to learn what our local government, police, fire, and first responders are doing to harden the security in our schools. Let's do something now!
Based on the Florida student survivors, CALL FOR ACTION, and the March 24th,planned National Youth March to Washington, DC, I would think that the folks here in SOMA would be demanding to know what additional security measures are being taken to further protect our schools and our children. Let's do something now!
What possible reason is there to delay a TWO TOWN community meeting? What are our community leaders, and school administrators waiting for? Experience tells us the longer we wait to do something, the less chance there is of getting it done. Is there anything they need to talk about before they talk to us? Let's do something now!
If you believe our children's safety should be local government's number one priority, and there's something to be learned from Parkland, something that should be put in place immediately, then Call Vic, Call Sheena, Call your neighbors, Call your friends, Call your family, and most important speak to you kids, and see if they too believe we need to do something now...
Vic and Sheena are on this FB page supporting this group.
https://www.facebook.com/Everytown/
ajc said:
Right, let's march... let's march right to the township committee meeting this coming Tuesday night, February 20th. and find out what different, (if anything) they plan to do to make our schools in SOMA safer. Let's do something now!
The Parkland shooting showed us that a school can follow all the best practices for security and safety and still be vulnerable to an attack. A shooter could walk up when school is letting out and massacre dozens of kids on the sidewalks in front of a school. There's no realistic way to protect schools short of building a 10-foot wall around the school and delivering the kids in armored trucks.
I have to scroll through my friends page to find a link but an administrator or school official posted a detailed account of the protocols in place at Parkland. They did not have security gaps or lapses. Yes, look for what we can learn but short of walls, metal detectors and bullet proof glass, I don’t think much. And we should be looking for preventative measures not reactive ones.
Vic and Sheena are on this FB page supporting this group.
https://www.facebook.com/Everytown/
Morganna, although I support Everytown, my post was not about that group.
Actually, I'm calling out for Vic and Sheena to announce a community Town Hall Meeting this Tuesday, and tell us what they learned from Parkland, and what if anything they plan to do about it.
CHS recently got a disturbing threat/warning written in the school parking lot, saying that if the bullying doesn't stop, they were getting a gun. FWIW, the FBI and the Parkland authorities also were warned, and more or less ignored it.
If nothing else, I feel it's important for our community officials to reassure our parents, especially our children that everything is being done to protect them. We shouldn't have to just assume they are...
kthnry said:
ajc said:
Right, let's march... let's march right to the township committee meeting this coming Tuesday night, February 20th. and find out what different, (if anything) they plan to do to make our schools in SOMA safer. Let's do something now!
The Parkland shooting showed us that a school can follow all the best practices for security and safety and still be vulnerable to an attack. A shooter could walk up when school is letting out and massacre dozens of kids on the sidewalks in front of a school. There's no realistic way to protect schools short of building a 10-foot wall around the school and delivering the kids in armored trucks.
kthnry, actually, the Parkland shooting showed us that they clearly dropped the ball; and in fact there was a lot more they could have done to prevent the massacre.
They may have followed some best practices for security and safety, but obviously we now know it wasn't nearly enough. I can think of many very realistic ways to protect schools without building 10-foot walls or delivering the kids in armored trucks, but with a negative, no realistic way to protect them mind set, then we'll never solve, or even reduce the attacks.
All voices and ideas should be welcomed. Local action does not preclude National action and vice versa.
conandrob240 said:
I have to scroll through my friends page to find a link but an administrator or school official posted a detailed account of the protocols in place at Parkland. They did not have security gaps or lapses. Yes, look for what we can learn but short of walls, metal detectors and bullet proof glass, I don’t think much. And we should be looking for preventative measures not reactive ones.
"I don’t think much." And, sadly with attitudes like that, we probably won't find much either. I believe we can solve this problem, we can save lives, and we must never give up on trying, or think that we can't do better. Nothing personal, I'm just say'n....
LOST said:
All voices and ideas should be welcomed. Local action does not preclude National action and vice versa.
Thank you Lost, that's exactly what I'm talking about... Why should we have to wait to hear what will come from the National March on Washington, DC? We see what they've NOT been doing for decades. I want to know what plans will be put in place in SOMA now...
ajc - you make it sound as though you're very open to the debate - yet, knowingly or unknowingly - you are subtlety using NRA & GOP talking points. Locally - we shouldn't need to bump up security in our schools. Fortunately, the gun laws in NJ are the strictest in the country and as a result, it may have prevented a school massacre.
I see the current movement across the country is to improve laws in the areas that need it more. What people want is to start with common sense measures:
1 - Ban bump stocks
2 - Stop the gun show loophole
3 - Ban those on terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms
4 - Re-instate Obama's ban preventing those with certain mental illnesses from purchasing guns
5 - Semi-automatic and military assault rifles should be used by the military. Perhaps if people want to fire these - authorized gun ranges could store them for on range use only.
Until any of these are addressed - the march will go full force.
All you're talking about is what "plans" will be put into place in SOMA - can you offer one idea of something needed locally?
Little of the problem can be solved by enhancing security measures. Yes, it has and can help but a better route to take might be to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place
ajc said:
conandrob240 said:
I have to scroll through my friends page to find a link but an administrator or school official posted a detailed account of the protocols in place at Parkland. They did not have security gaps or lapses. Yes, look for what we can learn but short of walls, metal detectors and bullet proof glass, I don’t think much. And we should be looking for preventative measures not reactive ones.
"I don’t think much." And, sadly with attitudes like that, we probably won't find much either. I believe we can solve this problem, we can save lives, and we must never give up on trying, or think that we can't do better. Nothing personal, I'm just say'n....
conandrob240 said:
Little of the problem can be solved by enhancing security measures. Yes, it has and can help but a better route to take might be to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place
ajc said:
conandrob240 said:
I have to scroll through my friends page to find a link but an administrator or school official posted a detailed account of the protocols in place at Parkland. They did not have security gaps or lapses. Yes, look for what we can learn but short of walls, metal detectors and bullet proof glass, I don’t think much. And we should be looking for preventative measures not reactive ones.
"I don’t think much." And, sadly with attitudes like that, we probably won't find much either. I believe we can solve this problem, we can save lives, and we must never give up on trying, or think that we can't do better. Nothing personal, I'm just say'n....
Amen
Start nationally by never voting for anyone who has an "A" rating from the NRA.
Some Republican candidate donors have also now declared that "enough is enough" and will not support such candidates. It's a start. At last?
It will take time, but certainly better than "thought and prayers" and WAY better than more guns or the ill-conceived notion of trying to turn our schools into preventive armed camps as though these shootings were otherwise unavoidable (as though an act of nature) and not as a direct result of the twisted gun culture and easy availability in this country.
jamie said:
ajc - you make it sound as though you're very open to the debate - yet, knowingly or unknowingly - you are subtlety using NRA & GOP talking points. Locally - we shouldn't need to bump up security in our schools. Fortunately, the gun laws in NJ are the strictest in the country and as a result, it may have prevented a school massacre.
I see the current movement across the country is to improve laws in the areas that need it more. What people want is to start with common sense measures:
1 - Ban bump stocks
2 - Stop the gun show loophole
3 - Ban those on terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms
4 - Re-instate Obama's ban preventing those with certain mental illnesses from purchasing guns
5 - Semi-automatic and military assault rifles should be used by the military. Perhaps if people want to fire these - authorized gun ranges could store them for on range use only.
Until any of these are addressed - the march will go full force.
All you're talking about is what "plans" will be put into place in SOMA - can you offer one idea of something needed locally?
Jamie, I'm 100% in agreement with 1 through 5; and I never said I'm against the march on Washington, DC. Your list of common sense measures should be addressed, and I suspect they will. And, yes I'm pushing for a SOMA Town Hall meeting, and why not? The gun laws in New Jersey have nothing to do with preventing another school massacre, and suggesting we shouldn't need to bump up security in our schools, is wrong and dangerous. I can think of many things needed locally to improve security at our schools; and regular community forums is the best way to maintain their effectiveness. More effective CCTV cameras, RING type door alarms, enforcing one way in and out, armed security guard, and an attack drill just to mention a few ideas...
there was an armed security guard at Parkland, he was in a different building at the time so useless. They had three manned, guarded exits during recess and he used hto w rest of the day. Gunman took the one out at his entrance and he knew when his biggest opportunity was. He also started shooting outside, before entering through any exit. The attack drill is valuable but every attack is different with different rules. This kid was well-versed in how to get at these kids (smoke alarm, for example). Focusing on security takes the onus (again and again and again) off the true issue- gun control.
There is an anger in the land now such as I have never seen. There is an anger, there is hope and
determination that now, We the people can put a stop to this carnage
This anger began but subsided at Columbine..............it continued below the surface at all other shootings
We were shocked and dismayed at Las Vegas.............but somehow, this anger which has a life of its own
did not surface.
Now it is very real and I sense it will not go away.
We will not buy the crap of the NRA and the law abiding citizen who claims that this would be a first
step to the Government confiscating the arsenal of weaponry that suffocates us and kills our children
My father was a coal miner.........I am from a culture where a young person is given his first rifle at
age 16 and collects a few more while he is still a minor. But this is a hunting culture. Where you used
your rifle to put meat on the table and to help feed your neighbors. The only handguns were emergency
weapons to be used while bear hunting.
That aside, there is a wave now that will not be denied. I think that a people so aroused will not be
denied this time.
There is a change in the wind
unless we want to put a platoon of guards around every school, even an armed guard isn't likely to prevent attacks. The attacker has the element of surprise. We don't expect security guards to walk around all day with a weapon drawn (and if we do, that of course raises the likelihood of accidental or mistaken shootings).
as Jamie points out, the strict firearm laws of the state of NJ apparently do protect us from gun violence. The rate of gun death in NJ is half the national average, and 3-5 time less than the rate in the states with the highest rates of gun deaths. If the rest of the country adopted NJ's firearm laws, they'd probably be better off. And if all states could make the licensing process a little stricter (more like getting a driver's license, requiring classes, practical training, and insurance), maybe we could do even better.
Number of Deaths Due to Injury by Firearms per 100,000 Population (by state)
Thought some might be interested in this FB post. The vigil is tonight.
Students of Seton Hall, led by SGA, MLKSA, Seton Hall College Democrats and other student organizations invite you to a Candlelight Vigil to remember the victims of the shooting Please join us on the University Green at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21st, for prayer, reflection and to mourn those who were lost.
I went to the TC meeting last night, and there appears to be movement towards looking into what can be done to prevent another Parkland like attack; however, after watching and listening to the kids speak in Tallahassee today, it quickly became clear that much more needs to be communicated to our community; and especially to our children.
I believe this time will be different, and I have never been more impressed. These kids were amazing and wonderfully fully self expressed. NEVER AGAIN is their rallying cry, and clearly they are determined to make it a reality. No more talk, and false promises. It's time for action....
ajc said:
I went to the TC meeting last night, and there appears to be movement towards looking into what can be done to prevent another Parkland like attack; however, after watching and listening to the kids speak in Tallahassee today, it quickly became clear that much more needs to be communicated to our community; and especially to our children.
I believe this time will be different, and I have never been more impressed. These kids were amazing and wonderfully fully self expressed. NEVER AGAIN is their rallying cry, and clearly they are determined to make it a reality. No more talk, and false promises. It's time for action....
I agree, they are amazing and I would have loved to have any of them in my classroom. I'm watching Senator Rubio closely and hoping that he will take a stand with them. He was ready to give up his political career after the election and chose not to. If he ever has a moment in history to take a gamble which might hurt his political future, this is it.
I watched the CNN Town Hall, I listened, I was deeply moved, and at the end, what was most evident was the emphasis was not about immediately hardening our schools, school security failures, mental health issues, local police, or the FBI; it was clearly on guns and the Second Amendment. I'm not opposed to some of the gun safety suggestions being made, but please let's be realistic. . . .
It's impossible to remove every gun in America; and no law, no policy, and there's no conversation that can prevent a person determined to murder innocent men, women, and children. There are currently tens of thousands of mentally sick folks walking the streets. I'm not promoting more guns, I'm not even promoting teachers carrying guns, but the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is with a good guy with a gun. . .
You can use this thread, and our own SOMA community as an example of what typically happens in the wake of another mass murder. Lot's of talk, but not much action. Yes we have several local groups doing good work, plus the calls for "Let's March", but mostly just more of the same old familiar rhetoric. Hopefully the Parkland tragedy will be different, but sadly not much changes until something actually happens in your own community.
In this thread I called for a "Two Town Community Town Hall." Jamie asked me, "Can I offer one idea of something needed locally?" I offered several, but the most important one was to have our community come together, to listen to our families concerns, especially our children; and to be reassured our leaders were doing everything they can to keep our schools and children safe.
As I posted earlier, I went to the township committee meeting Tuesday night. I went specifically to ask what was being done to harden our schools, and to protect our children. Honestly, with the huge level of national outrage over Parkland, being the meeting was televised, and this was their first opportunity to speak to our community, I didn't feel they expressed a sense of urgency to say, or do something now; and sadly as I looked around for others who may also share my sense of urgency, out of a town of 25,000, I was alone... 
It looks like there’s a meeting organized by Soma Action at the Maplewood Memorial Library tonight at 7.30. While there’s a village green article about it, there’s nothing on their site, unfortunately.
ridski said:
It looks like there’s a meeting organized by Soma Action at the Maplewood Memorial Library tonight at 7.30. While there’s a village green article about it, there’s nothing on their site, unfortunately.
"....there’s nothing on their site, unfortunately." Do you know what the meeting is about? I'll go just in case it's about community safety for our schools and children; and no one else shows up like Tuesday night...
Well I went, and was pleased to see a room full of concerned men, women, and children, mostly interested in helping our kids with their March on Washington, DC; and organizing for better gun control measures in our community and beyond. My first thought was where were all these good folks Tuesday night, asking the township committee what else is being done to harden our schools, and protecting our children. . .
Anyway, I was doing OK just listening and learning, that is until the conversation turned to there shouldn't be any teachers with guns in the schools; and I offered the example of the success the state of Colorado was having after Columbine, with trained armed teachers; and said, "Be careful what you ask for." Fortunately, they interrupted me to say it was time for the kids to give their closing remarks. . .
ajc said:
I offered the example of the success the state of Colorado was having after Columbine, with trained armed teachers
ajc - can you offer a link that shows the effectiveness of this policy? How many armed teachers are there in Colorado?
Jamie, I don't know the number in Colorado, but I understand nearly a third of the country, a total of 18 states, allows adults to carry a loaded gun on school grounds, with certain permissions. Listen, if it is only one in every school in America, it will save lives.
After the meeting last night, a woman came up to me and said, all of us here are worried about the collateral damage if teachers are allowed to carry concealed weapons. I told her I'm also concerned about our children being in far more danger without a well trained armed person in the school. I guess we'll just have to see what our leaders decide...
ajc said:
Jamie, I don't know the number in Colorado, but I understand nearly a third of the country, a total of 18 states, allows adults to carry a loaded gun on school grounds, with certain permissions. Listen, if it is only one in every school in America, it will save lives.
After the meeting last night, a woman came up to me and said, all of us here are worried about the collateral damage if teachers are allowed to carry concealed weapons. I told her I'm also concerned about our children being in far more danger without a well trained armed person in the school. I guess we'll just have to see what our leaders decide...
Hmm...
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/utah-teacher-shoots-herself-the-leg-while-school
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