HOW TO HELP PREVENT SCHOOL MASSACRES!

Here are some personal suggestions on how to prevent the massacre of 20 kids and six adults in a school in Connecticut, USA here at home:

NOBODY should be allowed to carry a gun in school for any reason whatsoever -- students, teachers, employees or visitors.  The only exception should be security guards or police, other law enforcers or military personnel responding to a request for assistance from school officials.

Students, teachers or school workers who spot violators must IMMEDIATELY INFORM the first teacher, school official or security guard they bump into. If the violator is a student, he or she must be immediately SUSPENDED until a thorough probe has been conducted.

If the student will fail to justify his or her possession of a gun, EXPULSION must follow at once.

Students or employees who have been behaving abnormally compared to their usual self must be reported at once to the principal or other school officials.

The same thing with declarations of plans for or curiosity about what would it be like to carry out bloody acts of violence, regardless of whether or not it was meant to be a joke.

If the one who uttered the statement is a student, his or he rparents must be summoned to the school pronto.

Bags of everybody entering the school must be opened and checked thoroughly at the gate. No exceptions. If necessary, the school should invest on extra guards and security cameras like metal detectors and closed circuit television cameras (CCTV).

The number of open entrances to the school must be kept to the barest minimum. Closed entrances must be guarded round-the-clock and all the guards must have handheld radios for coordination and quick response in case of emergencies.

For faster and more effective searches of bags, there should be separate entrances for students and school personnel and for visitors.

The school’s security people should coordinate with the police and barangay officials for possible information on and pictures of verified mentally sick criminals and residents in the community.

They should also explore the possibility of having a direct communication line with the police or other law enforcement agencies for immediate assistance in case of trouble.

For parents, NEVER ALLOW your kids to bring a gun to school regardless of the reason.

If the kid will say it’s for a class or school activity, VERIFY IT PERSONALLY with his or her teacher or with school officials. If the alibi is a threat to his or her life, ask for the details and go directly to the police and school officials.

CONTROL OR MINIMIZE as much as you can the quantity of violent TV programs or movies your kid watches or reads, especially if he or she is just in early grade school.

At the first sign of emotional or psychological disturbance, ask your kid as calmly as you can what’s bothering hi or her.

Help your kid solve it on the spot if you can, or promise your support at the very first opportunity. If you think professional help would be necessary, DON’T WASTE TIME in finding one as early as you can.

Keep this in mind, guys: BEING ALERT can save lives, especially your life and those of your family and loved ones.

God our Father will surely welcome the Connecticut massacre victims to His kingdom. 30