Here we go again.
It has been one day since a gunman opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, killing four people and injuring several others. There are already reports that he was known to the authorities before he carried out the atrocity.
This makes the incident the latest in a long line of shootings in which the assailant had exhibited signs that he might engage in violence at some point. Unfortunately, it appears nothing was done to stop him beforehand.
RedState’s Joe Cunningham reported on new information released by the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office about Colt Gray, the alleged shooter. Law enforcement had investigated Gray in May 2023 after he made threats online to commit a school shooting. He later denied this. The authorities could not take action due to the lack of probable cause.
The Bureau said it first became aware of the threat through anonymous tips. These included photographs of firearms posted online. The agency referred the case to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and found that Gray, then 13, lived in a home with hunting guns. His father assured law enforcement that he did not have unsupervised access to the weapons. Because there was no further evidence to justify action, the case remained dormant until the tragic events unfolded at the school on Wednesday.
Gray is facing murder charges and will be prosecuted as an adult. His victims include two students and two teachers who lost their lives during the shooting.
Despite the hard work and effort law enforcement officials put into catching these threats before they can cause harm, they cannot possibly intercept each individual, unfortunately. The fact of the matter is that it is impossible for government agencies to identify and stop every would-be mass shooter, which means that we need to take more action to protect children and other possible victims of mass shootings.
Yet, shortly after news of the shooting at Apalachee High School surfaced, the usual suspects rushed to exploit the victims by pushing for more gun control measures despite the fact that they are obviously ineffective ways to protect children. One would think that, by now, these people would realize that more “common sense” restrictions aren’t going to save lives and pivot to actual solutions – but they won’t.
If these folks were serious about protecting children, they wouldn’t be screaming about “common sense” gun control laws – they would be advocating for common sense security measures.
Gun control supporters are already using the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia to push for more gun restrictions.
— Jeff Charles, Doni's St. Bernard🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) September 4, 2024
It won't work.
In this video, I explain why.
Let me know what you think! pic.twitter.com/DKovqdqiQN
Several red states last year passed legislation aimed at making schools harder targets for would-be mass shooters to carry out their acts.
Now, a number of states have used federal funding to improve security at their schools. Louisiana is the most recent example. The state’s public schools will be receiving over $20 million to enhance security measures and prevent violent intruders.
The Louisiana Department of Education has allocated the funds to 39 winning applicants across the state, ensuring each recipient receives $518,355. The aim is to improve safety by implementing various measures such as controlled access points, modern badge systems, upgraded surveillance cameras, and reinforced classroom door locks.
This follows a trend of red states focusing on strengthening security measures in their schools. Republican-led state legislatures in the United States have passed measures to bolster school safety in response to mass shootings. These states include Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, and Utah.
The use of metal detectors, armed security, security cameras, arming teachers, and other methods are far more of a common sense approach to deterring or stopping armed assailants. They work far better than simply passing more restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms.
If someone is breaking into my home, I would reach for my gun before ever picking up my phone. Why? Because there is no guarantee that I will be able to get police officers to my residence before the bad guy manages to gain entry and harm me.
The common sense response is to defend myself instead of hoping the police show up in time to stop the intruder. The same holds true for schools. Using armed personnel and technology can neutralize a threat far faster than waiting for law enforcement to arrive on the scene.
What is ironic about this is that we understand this concept when it comes to courthouses, city halls, sports stadiums, and other facilities. We don’t so much as blink when we are walking through a metal detector while being monitored by armed security as we enter these buildings.
So, why don’t people believe that children at school deserve the same level of protection?
Those touting more gun control in response to school shootings are more concerned about pushing an anti-gun agenda than they are about protecting the lives of our little ones. The solution is right in front of their faces, yet they choose to pursue government action that won’t actually address the problem. Instead, they seek to impose their will on lawful gun owners, using the victims to manipulate people’s emotions. The question is: How many more will have to die before people begin taking these issues seriously enough to focus on solutions instead of politics?
