by Anya Tynio
After discussions with many individuals, including students, I believe that additional steps need to be taken to secure our schools. The use of metal detectors, locked entrance doors and School Resource Officers are reasonable, effective ways to provide safety for students and teachers. I would like to see these security changes made over the summer so as to be ready and fully functioning at the beginning of the school year.
Since these solutions are in response to a threat, we must also focus on ending these threats. In Washington, DC, it will be a priority of mine to research and investigate the reasons and motivation behind mass shootings. By doing this we can hopefully learn how to stop such tragic events before they begin.
Considering that shootings have also taken place at many locations outside of schools, I wish to encourage law abiding citizens to become proficient with firearms and to carry them whenever possible. We all pray that we would never have to use a weapon to protect ourselves or others, but having the ability to do so could save countless lives if necessary.
The author, a resident of Charleston, is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress.