If you have multiple armed defenders engaging an active shooter in a crowded hallway filled with panicked people there will most likely be collateral casualties. Friendly fire casualties. That is no argument against armed defenders. They would most likely save many more than they might wound or kill. It is almost a guarantee that a more adept and committed shooter than the ones we've seen so far will be forthcoming and produce a truly horrible death toll. I don't see how there could be security other than maybe a detention center/jail type with sally ports that would work to keep out all possible people with weapons. Imagine taking in 2 or 3 thousand students a day under airport or jail criteria. Then the entrance staging area outside the secure perimeter would be an inviting and extremely vulnerable target. In an attack casualties will result. It seems to me that the danger posed by having trained armed personnel on staff is a risk worth taking. The fear that a student might disarm a teacher and use the weapon is in fact valid. Any LEO is told in basic training that a large percent of officers shot are shot with their own weapon. As to the suggestion to use the military to guard civilian schools, aren't they prohibited by law from doing domestic law enforcement? There are no easy answers and we might as well get ready to accept that this will continue and put people in place to minimize it.
