By Brian Park
San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve. Photo by Brian Park
Updated (December 20, 10:15 a.m.)
In response to Friday’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn., San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve is asking the Capistrano Unified School District to allow teachers to carry firearms in classrooms as a safety measure.
In a letter dated Thursday, December 20, Reeve asks school officials to consider allowing willing school staff members, teachers and volunteer parents, who all might already own firearms, to carry their weapons on school grounds.
“Efforts must be taken to empower teachers, staff and parents to protect our children. Our society has been provided a false sense of security with schools partially surrounded by chain-link fences with unlocked gates and a 1,000-foot gun-free zone. It has continuously been demonstrated that neither deter the evil intent of murdering dozens of children. It is time as adults entrusted with the lives of children, we overcome our denial,” Reeve said in the letter.
Reeve, who said in an email that he also sent the letter to four private schools, suggests firearms could be safely secured in classrooms with no additional funding and that no teacher or staff member be required to carry a weapon. He also provides an alternative that would allow security guards to arm themselves.
“While armed security is more costly, unarmed security is no security at all,” Reeve said.
Reeve also calls for school staff and teachers to receive additional training for lockdown situations and for the district to consider locking down school campuses to allow for single access points.
District spokesman Marcus Walton confirmed the district received the letter and rejected any idea to allow school staff to carry firearms.
“Like school districts everywhere, we’re getting lots of well-intended suggestions and ideas on how to increase student security and safety in schools,” Walton said. “While we appreciate the councilman’s interest in this topic, we will not entertain any proposal to have staff persons carry firearms.”
John Alpay, president of the CUSD Board of Trustees, offered a similar statement:
“In light of the recent unfortunate events in Connecticut, we welcome the comments and suggestions from parents and community leaders on how to make our schools safer,” Alpay said. “However, the concept of allowing firearms onto our campuses is simply not viable.”
Mayor Pro Tem Sam Allevato, a 33-year veteran of law enforcement, believes the school board must thoroughly research all viable options before implementing additional safety measures.
“They need to bring in experts on school safety and start the discussion of what they can do to make schools safe and make sure sure that all the precautions are being taken,” Allevato said. “As to the one suggested by Mr. Reeve, that is an issue the school board will have to take up and discuss. It needs a lot of vetting. That type of reaction entails a lot of issues that needs further study.”
On Friday, shortly after the news broke of the shooting, Superintendent Joseph Farley released a statement on behalf of the board of trustees, offering the district’s condolences to those affected by the shooting. Farley also provided a link to the state Department of Education’s website with resources on how schools and parents can help students cope with tragic events.
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens also released a statement Friday, indicating that deputies would have an increased presence at schools.
Reeve’s letter is posted below:
Another brilliant suggestion by our lamebrained councilman. Maybe everybody in Capo should starting packing.
The councilman’s suggestion is insane. The only thing that increased guns have given the United States is increased gun related homicides. Today 270 million guns in the U.S. produce 3 times the amount of homicides (over 12,000 in 2011) in our country that in any other developed country. Who is going to train these people to responsibly store and discharge these weapons? So that in addition to fighting for their jobs, fair pay, reasonable curricula, they’ll need to be certain that under extreme pressure they’ll shoot the criminal and not the innocent students? Last year at the Empire State building highly trained police officers accidentally shot 9 innocent victims before they took down a suspect who had just murdered a former co-worker. Is the councilman really saying that we should entrust people whose primary responsibility is to educate with the additional responsibility of discernment and accuracy under pressure? Get real!
26 kids and adults are dead… is that real enough for you? We need a plan. Like a bank has a plan.
The relationship between teachers and students should not involve guns on either side. Banks have money, safes, and often guards. Schools do not. The “plan” to avoid violence in schools should involve education, caring, and zero access to weapons. No teacher should be responsible for law enforcement – school rules are difficult enough.
Cannot believe it..Somebody unelect this idiot.
How many different levels of stupid is this. Get this man off the podium.
Derek,
I have a better idea. Let’s provide all kindergartners and first graders with guns, and of course all the “training” that the NRA advocates (the same training that Adam Lanza got in Connecticut that ensured that he would use his firearms safely). After all, these kids are the ones at the “point of attack” and they need to defend themselves.
Of course if they only have handguns, and are facing a madman with an attack rifle, they still not might have much of a chance. So I guess I’ll amend my proposal: All of us should should have fully loaded automatic weapons and carry them on our persons at all times – with lots of extra 30-bullet clips – just to be safe!
I’m sure that you remember (and have oft-repeated) this solipsism:
“Guns don’t kill people – people with guns kill people.”
I guess we should ban people, not guns. I know which people I’d start with! Oh yeah: “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns!”
NRA guy: Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
Regular person: Don’t guns enable people to kill people?
NRA guy: No, that never happens.
Regular person: Statistics show much less gun violence in comparable countries with gun-control.
NRA guy: Using statistics is unfair.
Seriously I have never commented on this site before and I am so…so…so… angry at the complete and utter insanity of this thought process. Heaven help us if anyone else on the council even gives a moment of attention to this moronic idea.
Elections have consequences
You bet! Can’t wait to hear the people defending this one!
The ostrich that buries his head in the sand ,gets his *** kicked.
The ostrich that takes a stand is a fomidable bird.
Speak softly and carry a big stick. Kids are getting away with murder literally… And, they want us to learn how to grieve better. I would like to see corporal punishment back in schools. At least there was order. At least teachers got respect. Take the stupid cell phones away. If just some teachers were armed, and trained, and maybe a floor alarm installed, like a bank, in class rooms, just maybe 50% of those kids that died in a grade school would be alive today. Kids no longer respect adult authority. Something needs to be done. You are a bunch of wimps telling us how to grieve.
What an idiot. This is the most absurd suggestion I have ever heard. Note to self…do not vote for this guy.
I’m curious to know Dr Burns thoughts on the subject. After advocating guns in City parks, announcing from the dais that he named his dog Mohammad, and now this, I shudder to think what Derek will come up with next to embarrass our town.
Yes, we have not heard Dr. Burns or any other Reeve fans chime in on this one… I am waiting with great anticipation.
Mr. Reeve,
I will remember this come election day.
Fernando it’s me Kathleen and you know I would never speak out on this stuff or anything else but can you really image!!!!!!!!!
It’s time for a recall!
San Juan will be the laughing stock of the nation with comments like that. How did this man get elected? As with other elections, people must have put their head where the sun doesn’t shine. I believe an appeal process should be initiated.
I agree Steve. Get this guy out of here!!!! FAST
Steve,
This man has already made San Juan the laughing stock of the nation when he was dubbed a “Pinhead” by Bill O’Reily. That, on top of Reeve’s whole plagiarism scandal, pretty much makes the voters of San Juan look pretty dumb. I guess he must be going for the “Pinhead” record. Personally, I call, “NOT IT” since I didn’t vote for the guy. So embarrassing.
Bill O’Reilly calling someone a pinhead is like Derek Reeve calling someone rational.
irrational
Ok, giving guns to teachers is not practical but if I was a classroom teacher I would like to have something other than a piece of chalk in my hand when a “nutcase” with an assault rifle starts shooting.
The problem with the mass killing cannot be faulted to the existence of guns but with the humans who fail to safeguard them. In this case, the mom knew her son was deranged but still allowed guns to be accessible and not properly secured.
The mom also allowed her deranged son access to violent video games 24/7 that may have played a significant role in distorting reality in the mind of the shooter.
Before we allow government to abolish our 2nd amendment rights and disarm the people, we should take a long hard look at the root causes of violence which includes violence aimed at youth in the movies, TV and video games.
Can all of you who have offered an opinion of Derek’s suggestion be sure that your children aren’t being poisoned by violent movies and video games?
That would be a much more relevant question, John, if Mr. Reeve had suggested banning violent movies and video games, rather than putting more guns in schools.
Derek proposes to solve violence with more violence.
How on earth could we have elected this guy?
Is anyone paying attention?!
Scary.
Well.. I like train the staff. I think they are doing that already.
Secure school. I give Curt Visca and A+++ for having a warm and inviting school, yet secure. They look for visitors badges even if they know you.
I have met a few teachers in my lifetime, that I would not be really receptive to seeing them, or knowing they might have a firearm in the class. I think Ambuehl having a city patrol coming by often – is a great idea. Pretty comforting!
Crazy idea! That’s his solution. Wow, I agree that we speak when we vote next time. Insane!!!!!!!!
Where were all you SJC residents when this nut job was elected? If I’m not mistaken, this is the same ignoramus that thought it was ok for people to pack heat at parks too. And isn’t this the same attention whore that named his dog Muhammad just to be an a****?
Stop voting for these people. Ugh
Blue in Red,
What you’re saying has been addressed already in previous posts. I’m pretty sure most of the people posting here who are actually from San Juan did not vote for this man, and some (myself included) have even stated as much. Some others who have posted here are actually asking why none of Reeves most vocal supporters are chiming in here. Reeves is just making one bad decision after another. Either he really is nuts, or he has no intention of running for re-election and he’s just screwing with everyone, I don’t know. So, Blue in Red, add something new.
What are you? The Blog police? Well somebody voted for him. SJC is my hometown. Born and raised. It’s become a joke.
I’m with Jonathan Volzke. Ban all violent games and movies. Probably the best solution to our nations problem.
Also no one should own, use any form of an assault weapon. It serves no purpose for hunting or sport. Only the military needs them.
People better wake up. There’s a small but loud group of these people in South OC. What’s the expression again? God, Guns and Gays? They rear their ugly heads during things like union negotiations and elections, then they hide under their rock until the next time they can get attention and puke their ideology all over everyone.
Freaking nutty idea or not, it’s nice to know they finally want to help teachers instead of harassing them Lol
We have the council members and govt we deserve.
Unfortunately
Arming each individual teacher is impractical. This would require each teacher to trained and certified and then there is the problem of securing the weapon in each classroom. Schools should have restricted entry with steel doors, security cameras along perimeter. One official or a security officer should be armed and well trained and certified on a yearly basis. Banks have an alarm button to notify authorities during a robbery. Schools should also have an emergency,911, button for direct connection with police.
Y’ll had the chance to vote for me………….
You’ll get another in 2014.
Our council is in need of calm and clear thinking.
Jim
Which of the following two signs at a school entrance will prevent another tragedy?
1. All weapons are prohibited on these premises.
2. Faculty exercises their right to bear arms. Any attempt to harm children will be met with deadly force.
To those who say we need fewer guns and not more I say this: If getting rid of all of America’s guns makes America safer, then why doesn’t the government lead by example and go first?
Oh, and if guns are illegal nobody will have one right? Please, tell me more about how no one can buy illegal drugs.