Editorial: Proposals to arm campus workers present challenges

The latest school shooting at Virginia Tech has legislators and officials scrambling to develop knee-jerk policies to prevent similar massacres and make our educational institutions safer.

One such measure is being championed by University Regent Stavros Anthony, a Las Vegas police captain who will introduce a proposal to the Nevada System of Higher Education in June that would allow any employee to become a reserve police officer within his or her respective department. Employees would include anyone from the university president to maintenance workers. They would undergo Peace Officers’ Standards and Training certification prior to being armed.

State Sen. Bob Beers proposed a related measure to arm teachers earlier this year. The bill died in committee in April.

While we support the right to bear arms and for private citizens to carry concealed weapons, we don’t believe arming teachers or school employees will make schools safer from those bent on killing.

The logic behind arming those who are not law enforcement or do not normally carry a concealed weapon has one fatal flaw — more guns will be present on campus, guns that don’t behave differently in the hand of a murderous student, deranged professor or bitter ex-employee.

Educators and other university employees were hired for their job skills and educational backgrounds, not their ability to subdue violent students. Campuses will be safer with more police officers than teachers or staff members who have seen too many action movies when confronted with a dangerous situation, especially one where the perpetrator is likely carrying more firepower.

There’s also the issue of student-teacher relationships. Giving law enforcement duties to professors and teachers also jeopardizes the interaction they share with students.

If the Nevada System of Higher Education is serious about enhancing campus security, more resources should be dedicated to hiring more law enforcement, better campus communication systems, implementing campus security plans and identifying troubled students before tragedy strikes. Leave security and law enforcement to those with the proper experience and thorough training.

Editorials are written by the members of the LVN's editorial board, which consists of the editor and publisher.