USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Recently, the United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center released another tool in support of the effort to end the prevalence of targeted violence effecting the Nation, the world, and most importantly – our schools,” the agency announced in a July 12 press release. “ENHANCING SCHOOL SAFETY USING A THREAT ASSESSMENT MODEL – An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence, was developed to provide fundamental direction on how to prevent incidents of targeted school violence.”
The guide itself credits “staff” and six “Social Science Research Specialists” reporting to the “Chief” of the National Threat Assessment Center, with degrees ranging from M.A., M.Ed. and Ph.D. Exactly what experience or achievements any of them have actually attained with the stated purpose of the guidelines, “preventing targeted school violence,” is unclear.
So are the “Contents.”
We start off with a “Message from the Director,” because he is the boss, and an “Introduction” that tells us “there is no profile of a student attacker.” We then get to the meat of things with “Creating a comprehensive targeted violence prevention plan.”
You’ve got to put together a “multidisciplinary team.” You should figure out the types of behaviors that are “prohibited” and “concerning.” You’ll need to be able to report such concerns, anonymously if need be (just make sure you don’t report protected classes, because experience tells us “If you see something, say something” does not apply equally to all). Next you’ll have to figure out when to call the cops. And you’ll need “assessment procedures,” which can include anything from warrantless searches (it’s not like young people are being indoctri… taught to be free citizens with rights) to creeping on social media.
The assessment procedures get more detailed to include determining “inappropriate interests,” “weapons access,” “stressors,” “capacity to carry out an attack” and the like, and that’s all fine and good, but truly – authorities have had such information before, on numerous occasions, and the failure to react appropriately seems to come inordinately from their end.
What’s missing completely is, once all of these precautionary, analytical and reporting measures fail, what are all the people on the ”multidisciplinary team” supposed to do then?
The time for “creating and promoting safe school climates” is not when the monster they’ve either been concerned about, or oblivious to, decides to go on a rampage. When that happens what “training for all stakeholders” will help stop it in its tracks? Exactly what will any of the actual “first responders” be prepared to do to “prevent targeted school violence”?
The guide is suddenly silent on that. I guess the question is, which would you rather have in those circumstances? An advanced degree in social sciences or a defensive pistol shooting course or two under your belt?
“Teachers shouldn’t have to be armed!” various sheep bleat, coming up with every excuse in the world to abdicate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of children entrusted to their care. Stated that way, it’s a lie. No one should “have to,” and even the Founders had exemptions for those deemed “conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms.”
That argument is a red herring to mask what those making it are really doing: presuming to take the choice away from Americans entitled to keep and bear arms. Besides, if you can’t expect “pacifist” teachers to assume the basics for their own defense, how is it reasonable to expect them to execute complex and coordinated investigative and risk assessment/management duties?
The Secret Service guide basically states the obvious on what you’d think responsible schools should have already been doing, especially considering all the money thrown at “education” in this country. Instead, what we see are their institutions committed to erasing the historical moorings that enabled the Republic to rise to heights of achievement and liberty never before experienced by humankind, and to filling that intentionally-created void with loathing, resentment and hatred for the builders.
The wonder is that such bizarrely unnatural and oppressive environments haven’t driven more over the edge.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.