School safety seminar held in northwest Ohio

by Jim Irvine

Teachers, administrators and law enforcement personnel gathered in Montpelier, Ohio, last week to listen to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman present information on violence and school safety. Colonel Grossman is an expert recognized around the world for his research and knowledge on the topic of human aggression and violence. Violence is not only the number one killer of our children in school; it surpasses all other causes of death combined.

The event was hosted by Chief Jeremy Jones and the Edgerton, Ohio, police department, sponsored by the Montpelier Eagles, Williams County. Prosecuting Attorney Kirk Yosick and the Edgerton-based Family Protection Group, LLC and facilitated by retired Montpelier police chief Jeff Lehman. This cooperative effort spearheaded by Jones and Lehman is bringing significant safety-related improvements to local schools. Experts have noticed their collective work and used it as an example of what every community should be doing to address school violence.

With the Sandy Hook killings in Newtown, Connecticut, last December, along with multiple other mass killings, violence and preventive measures should be on the minds of every school board member in the country. It certainly is for teachers, who know they will die with their children if the school has not taken appropriate action. Every school district in the multi-county area was invited. Sadly, only eight districts found the #1 cause of death of children in their care worthy of their time.

Grossman spent considerable time explaining tragic events and the frequency at which they are occurring. It is clear that this problem is not going away, and is likely to get much worse. Terrorists have targeted children in other countries and there is no reason to believe we will escape that threat here. The only thing that is going to limit the body count in such situations is an armed and trained person, ready to respond from inside the school (or church, day care center, shopping mall, office, etc.) when the killer(s) first strike.

Any location that does not have real security in place is more likely to attract the killers because they know they can achieve a higher body count. Compared to places with armed resistance, such locations will have more dead, they will be found negligent and be successfully sued. The leaders will be psychologically, financially and professionally destroyed. Grossman points out that the "killing that never happens, is the greatest success." Armed security acts as a deterrent, making an attack less likely.

So why have most places left themselves so exposed to this danger? Denial. People do not want to face the ugly facts associated with terrorism or the mass slaughter of innocent children. The killing of our children is not a pleasant topic. But anyone in a position of authority in these places is duty-bound to learn the facts and take all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure the safety of those in their care.

We enjoyed talking with the many teachers and other school employees as well as law enforcement officers attending. We answered many questions about school violence, safety, training, and the FASTER (Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response) program. It is wonderful to see police and school employees learning and training together for a serious threat to their community. It is frustrating that too many on both sides fail to see the importance of these relationships and are thus failing their communities and those in which they serve.

There was one difficult question that was asked by many teachers:. "Why isn't my supervisor or any school board member here?” (Sigh ...) We know they were invited. Anyone who attends a Dave Grossman seminar leaves with a good understanding of the threat we are dealing with, what works and what does not. Teachers know their school's plans and preparation. Many know just how deficient their BOE has been at making needed changes. Why do teachers take the time to learn, but their BOE refuses? Teachers love their kids. Either the school board members don't care about safety, or they are too immature (afraid) to deal with this issue. Either way, many are not fit to be in charge of children's lives.

Dave Grossman was in Ohio in March. He was here again in July. He will be here again on October 12. Three different dates and three different locations since Sandy Hook. Has your school sent someone to hear him? Why not? Are you happy with their attitude about your child's safety?

Many school board members are up for election this year. If you have people who refuse to learn or make changes in your schools, now is the time to get active.

You bought a child seat for your children, and took the time to strap and unstrap them many times. You have helmets for riding bikes and have invested time and money in countless ways to keep your children safe. If your school board will not take reasonable steps to prepare for violence in your schools, then you owe it to your kids to replace your school board.

In Ohio, you have until August 7 to collect 25 valid signatures to put your name on the ballot for school board. Contact your county board of elections for applications and instructions. Work with others in your community to make changes.

Link to County Board of elections directory:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electionsofficials/boeDirectory...

School Safety information page:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/8967

Register for Oct 12 Grossman event:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e79f4etz39...

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Foundation President, and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award" and the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award."