School Marshals

1. http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/new-laws-aim-to-bolster-safety-at-texas-public-sch/nZm6L/
2. Category of problem/issue: School safety
3. Level of problem/issue: State level
4. The article concerns: Texas public schools are trying to cover schools that do not have an officer on site or perhaps don’t have enough in case an issue of shootings, stabbings or another lethal issue occurs.
5. Why is this important to individuals/families OR how does it affect individuals/families:
          --Families and individuals rely on the school system and teachers to help protect their children from harm, while during school hours. Because of recent attacks, Texas public schools are thinking now about allowing school employees, who are licensed to carry concealed handguns, to become "school marshals". In hopes to establish a state task force to bolster school safety measures.
6. What are your views on the issue/problem?
          --I think this country has recently seen a lot of heartbreak when it comes to what has been happening in terms of schools and the lack of safety measures. People in this country have witness, read and even have watched many more instances of breakthroughs in school security. Whether it being shootings, stabbings or bombings this country has gone through a lot in the past year a lone. The elementary school shooting in Connecticut shook this nation and really called attention to the fact that we need to take more safety measures in schools.
     Texas is really stepping up now with throwing the idea around about creating a specialized training course to create "school marshals".  House Bill 1009, the Protection of Texas Children Act, is allowing this to be a possibility. "Under the act, school employees who wish to become marshals would have to be licensed to carry a concealed weapon in Texas and would receive 80 hours of training through one of the state’s 106 state-certified law enforcement training academies. School campuses could have one marshal for every 400 students." I will say, at first glance of this article I was against creating the program for "school marshals". After reading that school employees would have to go under 80 hours of training, my opinion changed. The more practice the better. I think this program could help improve safety in our schools and put parents and individuals minds more at ease. I would assume that sending your child off to school every morning can be daunting. In this world you do not know what is going to happen at any given moment or time. Always be ready.