Nutter: arming all school police 'ludicrous,' 'insane'
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
Nutter: arming all school police 'ludicrous,' 'insane'
Kristen Graham
Mayor Nutter’s reaction to the National Rifle Association’s suggestion that armed guards be placed in every American school?
“That message was an insult to the lives of those children,” the mayor said in an interview Friday, referencing the grade schoolers murdered a week ago in Newtown, Ct. “That we would face the prospects of shootouts in our schools, and utilize the precious and declining resources in public education to put armed personnel in every school is insane.”
Nutter dismissed the idea as coming from someone “who had clearly watched too many old Westerns” and said that NRA executive vice-president Wayne LaPierre lost all credibility because he "didn't have the guts, didn't have the sensibility to at least acknowledge that there is a gun problem in the United States of America."
Nutter is the parent of a daughter who attends Philadelphia public schools.
Yes, some Philadelphia public schools have unacceptable levels of violence, but universal guns are not the answer, he said.
An unarmed police force monitors the Philadelphia School District, with officers permanently stationed inside many schools and others making do with roving patrols. Armed city police officers do work inside some of the city’s larger high schools.
Every Philadelphia public high school also has a metal detector or hand-held scanner.
The idea of arming officers in Philadelphia schools has surfaced in the past.
In 2004, then-schools chief Paul Vallas said he wanted to place armed officers in high schools, an idea that was staunchly opposed by Mayor John Street and others who believe that the move would create a police state inside schools, and inappropriately criminalize behavior that ought to be handled with discipline. More behavior supports and front-end intervention is the answer, not armed officers, they said.
Vallas’ suggestion came after a Strawberry Mansion student was gunned down near the school.
But the idea never really gained traction.
After "Assault on Learning," the Inquirer's investigative series on school violence, ran in 2011, an administration official said that both Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey believed putting city police inside some schools was one way to help curb violence.
A city police officer, Chief Inspector Cynthia Dorsey, is now head of the school district's safety force.
Nutter would know about insanity, since he himself is insane— fbpdplt- The "journalism" in the this story is incredibly sloppy and incomplete, which in some ways is confusing the readers in some ways and misinforming them in other ways. Quick bottom line: The violence in the Phila. schools (and other urban schools) is more of the traditional variety (e.g., fighting, a confiscated weapon, etc.) and it has nothing to do with armed gunmen and murderous psycopaths like we've seen at, e.g., Columbine and Newtown. Ever notice how these horrific tragedies always happen in the suburbs? That's because the city schools have in fact put in far better security and policies/procedures than their suburban counterparts. One would think such a distinction by Philadelphia's city schools would be publicized by the school district, yet they and the mayor completely missed the opportunity. Honest question: Why do you think it is that the mass shootings never happen in an urban school?— Truth B. Told
- The NRA is trying to make even more $$$ out of the problem it helped create, i.e., way too many guns in way too many hands. Sure, let's arm all the cafeteria ladies, and by the way, the NRA's member manufacturers will be glad to sell the firearms to us! More arrogant stupidity from an organization that has pushed peace-loving folks around for too long already.— Dave Clemens
- To Nutter and the rest, there are a number of schools in the US that have armed police and they do not have an issue. There are ARMED US Air Marshals on planes and I do not see Code Pink blaming them for 9-11. There are armed security guards on Nutter's office. So why does it not work? Why do police carry guns anyway?— Dutch-wayne
- What about armed guards at theaters? Shopping malls? Why do kids get more protection than the rest of us?
The last question is rhetorical, of course. But this is really silly.
From reports I read, this shooting took about 3 minutes. If the armed cop was in another part of the building, he would never have gotten there in time anyway.
This is the same kind of stupid idea like "everyone should be armed". It ignores the speed with which an attack can happen, the fact that the attacker always has the upper hand (surprise, and gun at the ready), and the number of people who'll be killed in the resulting Wild West shootout.
Another stupid idea from the NRA.— Tatt2 - What in the name of Sam Hill is the matter with you sheep? You militantly demand to be disarmed because you are afraid of your own shadow.
YOU FOOLS REAP WHAT YOU HAVE SOWN. THIS UNSAFE WORLD IS BECAUSE OF YOUR LIVES OF DRUG- AND BOOZE-INDUCED LALA LAND LIVES DISCONNECTED FROM REALITY.
Now reality is smacking you all upside the head and you don't have the stomach or the spine for it.
You are pathetic wastes of human flesh.— Spirit of 76 
- Reelecting Nutter was insane.— barneygoogle
- Enough with the gun control debate already..the only guns mentioned are the assault weapons. A couple hand guns would produce the same result.
If someone wants to kill people there is very little anyone can do about it until it occurs.
— mbutley - Typical comment by Mayor Nutter;
Banning all assault weapons is fine, but is not the entire answer, what about those that already have them. Putting an armed guard inside each school is another piece that will help to stop this. Parental supervision and common sense secure of all weapons is another.Security systems for each school is another. This is not a problem that will be solved with one type of answer and will not be solved with close minded individuals that insist on protecting their political party.— tony bell - Might be effective in the cracker box schools in New England. Correction Officers in state prisons don't carry guns inside because they are way outnumbered by inmates who would eventually overpower the officer. Whats the difference in Philly schools?— noontime
- What is an armed guard going to do against a nut job, suited in body armor, and using an AK wit ha banana clip.... Nothing... he or she is going to die.— Bruddah
- More guns to protect against guns. Genius.— jburd641
- I think this is the wrong direction. It does create a police state within schools and could potentially create more harm than good. Considering how infrequent these occurences are, it is probably a bad idea to arm all officers in schools. One "trigger happy" police officer and you may have a different problem on your hands. Philadelphia schools are far more protected than others and I do not believe that there has ever been a mass killing. In fact, when I was in high school a student was found dead in Germantown High School with broken legs and hung. Guns weren't involved. Mass school murders are extremely sad, but arming police in every school is really a waste of time, money, and resources.— MrJayScott
Comments like Nutter's show him to be a fool and reveal an amazing lack of leadership to scared parents throughout Our Faire Countrie Towne. In one sentence the Mayor ridicules the NRA's position, and then we read that armed guards are, IN FACT, in several of our schools already. One could argue that the placement of armed guards in many schools where non-white students are the vast majority, is an act of not so subtle racism. Especially when the docuemnted history of mass murderers show them to be angry young white men. Seems like the armed guards should be at Masterman rather than Southern High. Bet they ain't.— The Monk
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
