AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, facial recognition systems, RFID tracking chips and other high-tech gear form the first line of defense against mass shootings in Texas City, Texas, schools. The district hired a former Secret Service agent to run security after the Santa Fe school shooting, and local voters approved a $6.5 million bond issue to pay for it. But how much is too much when it comes to school security?
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AR-15s and High-Tech Gear: School Safety Texas Style
AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, facial recognition systems, RFID tracking chips and other high-tech gear form the first line of defense against mass shootings in Texas City, Texas, schools. The district hired a former Secret Service agent to run security after the Santa Fe school shooting, and local voters approved a $6.5 million bond issue to pay for it. But how much is too much when it comes to school security?
9 replies on “AR-15s and High-Tech Gear: School Safety Texas Style”
Texas City is not affluent and $6 million seems like a lot of debt for (hopefully) equipment and building modifications. It might be due to having poor security at entry points in older schools and inadequate classroom doors. Chip readers might not imply imbedded. Imbedded is over the top. Chip ID cards may be what is being used. Secret Service folks have never been fans of concealed carry and love screening technology (chip readers, metal detectors, thumb print readers and facial recognition devices). When it comes to protecting high federal officials, money is not usually much of an issue.
What I noticed was that there was no mention of allowing concealed carry for selected faculty and staff. To me taking the gun free status away and encouraging selected faculty and staff to be first responders to such incidents is the most effective way to make these campuses a much less probable target. I would not propose allowing students (high school and below) to carry. Colleges, fine.
Mike
Can confirm, new comment system does not refresh page. Video volume still always starts at max volume for some reason though.
It’s on my list, Nolan…and I’m tenacious.
That volume thing doesn’t seem to happen for me. I listen to music on youtube in addition to BW content, and don’t have to adjust my volume. (Don’t tell my IT guy I stream videos at work, he would have a cow.)
Testing new comment system while video is playing.
Does it work?
[spoiler title=” “]Yes![/spoiler]
I’ve never seen that spoiler feature before. So cool.
Let me begin by saying…No way on God’s green earth will I ever consent to an RFID chip implanted anywhere on my body. Nope. They will have to fire me. Having people know exactly when I go to the faculty restroom and how long I am in there is an invasion of privacy I am not prepared to give up for anyone.
That being said, we have had cameras installed throughout my high school, and do have “smart locks” on a lot of the entries on campus. You have to swipe a badge to get in the door.
This method is seriously flawed. Yes, there are the locks, but there are thousands of students arriving at school in the morning, when they leave the entries unlocked until the start of classes. Students hold the door open for other students all the time, whether they know them, or not. It’s their way of “beating the system”. Also, during all class changes and lunches, there are students going in and out all the time.
If a shooter bothers to become familiar with the school schedule, the security could be easily breached.
Scott is right. All this simply buys an extra two or three minutes until law enforcement arrives. It won’t save lives.
What will save lives? Armed teachers. Some states have already implemented this option. First line of defense from the inside, from people scattered throughout the school, ready to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done.
Everything is else is just a bandaid on a gushing wound.
Totally agree. If someone ever asks me to put a government device of any kind within or on my body, I start running very quickly in the opposite direction.