school guards should be retired cops or military, NOT some guy who couldn't get into the police academy .

Also I thought ALL adults (teachers, janitor and kitchen staff) used separate restrooms than the students !

It will, unfortunately, not be long before one of these armed guards accidentally shoots a student.

Even retired cops and military make mistakes. They typically have higher instances of mental health issues due to the stress of their jobs and some have been through careers where they have to assume that even children are criminals or a security threat.

Clark Arnold joined the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept. in 1976 as a corrections officer before being promoted to a road patrol officer in 1978. He served as a Certified Firearms Instructor, Certified Taser Instructor and Pepper Spray Instructor before retiring on April 19, 2008 with 32 years of service.

If we really want our children to be safe in their schools, we shouldn't put the children in a position where they have to rely on some absent-minded armed security guard leaving his weapon in the restroom in order for them to get their guns. Responsible parents and local School Boards need to arm all of the school children directly! The American school safety mantra should obviously be:

"A Glock semi-automatic pistol in every child's lunchbox."

"A Sig-Sauer semi-automatic pistol in every child's backpack."

"An AR-15 Bushmaster semi-automatic assault rifle in every child's hall locker."

The only thing that will stop a bad child with a gun is a good child with a gun. Our children will never be truly safe until every child is packing! It's just common sense.

I don't doubt a bit that somewhere down the line we will find that "some" retired or previous duty officer or military personnel was let go for dubious reasons kept off their record, and may go off on some teenage mouthy punk, or just the occurrence of an accident though I know of none that has ever been "reported" from previous use of guards at schools.

What bothers me most about the american public is they often act more immature than the students. If we need armed security or even the nation guard posted at our schools for a limited time to let the "fire" smolder down and push off attempts of any would be "copy cat" killers from preying on our schools, then so be it. If we need to make military styled weapons illegal for a limited time or whatever, then we need to do it and quit whining like spoiled brats. We are talking of a minority when we consider the people that protest any gun ban for assault weapons, and a majority in America that are behind such a ban, and on high volume magazines, and that's the simple truth. True, the constitution pertains to minority groups as it does majority and should be that way.

Mostly we need to see tougher regulations such as a federal background check not only on retail sales but privates sales, and the right for the government to regulate any gun owner who (if assault weapons are not banned) chooses to have such weapons, to prove they are kept safely and that they are still in their possession (preventing straw buyers), without allowing any frivolous harassment to ensue. Gun collectors who have full auto military weapons have to meet strict government guidelines and so should mass damage assault weapons, they are out of the normal range of considered firearms.

As when we drive, we have safety inspections, have to keep a current license and registration, and meet safety standards. In that too, there are larger more dangerous (in an accident) semi-tractor-trailer vehicles that have to meet rigorous safety standards and inspections above and beyond normal vehicles. So to it should be with assault military style type weapons. It is so simple, its a no-brainer except for childish minded adults who most likely don't need to own a weapon in the first place , and an incompetent government that cannot even rule itself more less the populace. And all this from a once active prior duty disabled Army now retired citizen of the populace of our nation that had more pride and higher standards than it will ever have again.

Maybe Retired armed guards or police officers are not the answer. I would think age should play a roll in who carries guns in schools, mental stability and physical capabilities should be considered. Why would this guy take his gun out of his holster or take off his holster and leave it in a bathroom if he was playing with a full deck? How found the gun? If you're going to report a story you should report all of it. Sometimes I think Reporters are either to dumb to ask the right questions or think we should ask the questions for them?

I feel that the NRA, who will do anything to get more guns in the hands of more Americans, need to take responsibility for the situation they helped create and should be prepared to pay for top level security guards for every school in the US. Why should taxpayers have to pay more taxes (or give up other services) to pay for this obsession with guns? Maybe a tax on guns should pay for it. Of course, my solution would be to make it more difficult for crazies to get their hands on guns, but gun nuts seem to hate that idea.

This is a not a news story. It is merely a minor, innocuous incident intended to provoke. The gun was unloaded and it was there for a "few moments". In all likelihood he walked out into the hallway and walked back to get it. How was this brief oversight even reported to appear here on national news? So that we could all discuss what could have happened?

nesport

Even retired cops and military make mistakes. They typically have higher instances of mental health issues due to the stress of their jobs and some have been through careers where they have to assume that even children are criminals or a security threat.

Wow, gun enthusiests and NRA freaks will come up with anything to justify having more guns out there. Even when it's clearly a bad idea to have more guns around students in a learning environment due to some idiot they hired to play cop. Saying even retired cops and military make mistakes. This is one mistake we can stop instantly by not allowing guns in the schools.

Also I would like to know why the gun was not loaded. If he is hired to protect, I doubt a killer is going to stand there and wait for him to load his gun before shooting. The whole idea the NRA had of putting armed guards in schools was to have someone ready to deal with the situation. This guy can't even remember where he puts his gun. Maybe that'swhy it wasn't loaded is they don't trust him with a loaded gun. Kinda like on Mayberry RFD the TV series where the sheriff would not give the deputy a loaded gun because he was incompetent.

Annie-322924

This is a not a news story. It is merely a minor, innocuous incident intended to provoke. The gun was unloaded and it was there for a "few moments". In all likelihood he walked out into the hallway and walked back to get it. How was this brief oversight even reported to appear here on national news? So that we could all discuss what could have happened?

If that was the case then how did anyone find out about it. I mean if he walked out and then goes, oops and walks back in and grabs it, then that should have been that. Also, how does one forget the whole purpose of being there in the first place of having a gun to protect against other guns? One more point, why have a guard with a gun if you are not going to have that gun loaded and ready for use?

"School officials at The Chatfield School in Lapeer, Mich., told mlive.com the officer left an unloaded weapon in a restroom "for a few moments" on Monday."

Why is this even a story ???

"By Vignesh Ramachandran, Staff Writer, NBC News".....Slow news day in Bombay ??

One less Assistant Principal = 1 Trained Armed Security Guard...

Retired Cops are sometimes as young as early 40's, after 20 years on the Police Force....

When it comes to providing security, armed guards are paid around $25,000 a year. Police officers are around $50,000 a year.

The NRA goes on about security being an "elitist" affair, but in poor schools, where sports and music programs are being cut, where textbooks are old and worn, and where students are going hungry because we can't afford to give them a healthy lunch, where the HECK are they supposed to come up with the money for armed guards? There is going to be an even clearer divide in the rich vs. poor with armed personnel present--along with other things the underprivileged can't afford like bulletproof glass.

StandUpJokeOff - I agree with you. NRA doesn't say a word about helping kids get school books and lunches, but when it comes to guns they are all ears. Basically NRA is saying we don't care about our kids education or health as long as we get to put guns in the schools.

I have no problems paying school taxes for the education of my and others children as that is part of an educated public being for the common good for all, but armed guards is not something that my federal, state, county, city or school taxes should be spent on. If the National Rifle Association (NRA) is serious on it’s proposal to have armed guards at every school (public and private) in every county, of every state, then it’s their responsibility to pay for trained police professionals (minimum of two at each school), since it’s their toys creating the problem. Since the NRA so kindly made the recommendation I’m sure they will support taxes on guns and ammunition to pay for their proposal. Call it a ‘Use Tax’ for fans of Grover Norquist!

Consider the NRA vision of America, an America where only guns can protect us from our neighbors. We should own any and every gun on the market . . . hunting or military-style . . . Open carry is better yet. . . high count clips . . . . anything goes. And our neighborhood? Armed groups of young men ride around in their pickup trucks, assault weapons slung from their shoulders, cruising on a Saturday night. Every person straps on a gun to go shopping. Every home, every apartment has an assault weapon hanging on the wall. Take your kid in one hand, and your gun in the other, and walk to school. Every classroom has a gun for protection. Continue to improve firepower to meet the demand for more lethality, more accuracy, more carnage.

And why is all of this necessary? Because the NRA has successfully promoted the sale of guns, ubiquitously. BAckground checks not required. We all NEED guns because we've concluded that the only way to survive their insane world-view is to protect ourselves WITH guns.

We've become the joke . . . no the insane uncle . . . of the planet. Does any of this sound familiar? Somalia, Sudan and Beirut look safe in comparison. We're the most fearful, hateful, foolish and dangerous morons on earth. Welcome to the USA, gun capital of the planet. Guns, guns, and more guns. 2nd Amendment? No, not the musket 2nd amendment from 1776, but the revised and updated amendment of Alito and Scalia . . . assault weapons, semi-automatic weapons of a modern war in every home. As interpreted by the equally insane right wing, we need this ready-for-sedition militia to protect us against the government. Why is this? A self-fulfilling prophecy that will only come true if you keep voting for right wing wackos. Get rid of these anti-American tea-bigots and their right wing nuts and phony libertarians like the Ron and Ran Paul fools. They only wish to destroy America.

NRA = Nazis Representing America Sponsored with thanks to the NRA from recent school killers James Holmes (killed 11), Adam Lanza (killed 27), Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (killed 13).

The 'more guns' solution is failing right in front of a national audience, yet the ones that cling to their weapons will only suggest that every security guard should now be issued two weapons in case one of them gets lost, stolen or misplaced so he will still have another gun to kill whoever got gun number one.

It is so absurd that it would be funny if it was a tv show.

Oh yeah, that's right RWNJ'S when you put a dufus in a school to protect the children with his big @!$%#ing gun... he needs to have enough of a brain to not leave it in the John~!

Seems like security guards in schools are making it easier for kids to come in contact with guns.

Well, the unloaded part does remind me of Barney Fife. And many retired older people do have the occasional "senior moment" when they forget where they put their pen or pencil, or forget to put the food back in the refrigerator. But forgetting a gun ANYWHERE? Give that guy the hook and put him on a riding mower somewhere. He'll do less damage in the long run.

Then there's the curious reasoning that says "guns don't kill people, people kill people" but can't make the leap into "guns don't protect people, people protect people." If guns don't kill people, they cannot protect people. So why are we having this conversation? Oh yes - Mister Wayne "You can call me crazy" LaPierre. If you insist.....

Did anyone notice the "security guard" was a retired "sheriff's officer?" It's bad enough when untrained people are expected to protect children in schools but claiming a trained officer is any better creates a false sense of security.

and some nutcase comes in and shoots the guard who has a non loaded pistol...

I see two problems here. Leaving the gun in the bathroom is a huge mistake. Feeling relieved that it was unloaded doesn't make sense. Why was the gun not loaded? Isn't the whole reason for having armed security at the school to prevent a mass shooting? How can the security guard stop a shooting with an unloaded gun? If a crazed killer shot his way through the locked door and stormed in, would the security guard be able to load the gun in time to make a difference?

I'm all for having a resource officer at schools - our high schools have had them for years. But arming teachers and other personnel will only increase the danger to kids. School shootings, though they are huge and horrifying, are extremely rare. If multiple adults within the school are armed, there's a far greater chance that someone will be shot with one of their guns than would be shot by a crazed intruder.

Teachers already have an overwhelming job and are underpaid. It's asking too much for them to also be armed and to insure that their gun never gets into the hands of a student, is never accidentally left in a restroom, or is ever stolen by the night janitor - or any number of other things that could happen to it. For a teacher to take on the responsibility of a weapon, it would have to always be in the forefront of his/her mind. And that's not what the teacher is there for.

Three questions:

1) Was this idiot fired?

2) What did this idiot expect to do with an UNLOADED weapon?

3) Did he at least wash his hands?

Maybe he was looking for his bullet??!!

What I really want to know was the gun really unloaded?

People fail to take into account that we do not have thousands of SWAT team members available to guard schools. In fact, after the wars started in 2001 a lot of law enforcement officers headed off to National Guard service elsewhere, and according to national police organizations subsequent problems with law enforcement conduct resulted from the influx of less-trained officers. The other thing is that, human nature being what it is, this is going to happen from time to time--although presumably less so than it happens in private homes with guns not being secured. Fatal shootings and injuries have happened when cops' kids have gotten their hands on and played with daddy's weapon. We had a deputy whose gun--loaded--accidentally went off in the county courthouse bathroom. He had many years of impeccable service.

I've said it before, and I say it again, if you want to protect an area from intruders, harden it. It works for the Army, and the other branches of the service. Is it 100% reliable? No, there is no such thing as absolute safety, in the Nam, when the pigs could get into the parameter, you knew the VC weren't far behind, but it did give a warning of the threat. If you want absolute safety, you will absolutely sacrifice your freedom, the best way to not be harmed is to do nothing at all, but in the process, you will accomplish nothing at all, life is about taking risks to advance yourself. Does that mean you must take unacceptable risks? No, it doesn't. In the normal course of business, many courthouses, penal institutions, military installations, even some stores, harden the parameter by various methods, does it work? Yes, is it foolproof? No, there are no absolutes, get over that. But it is an improvement and helps chances to reduce incidents.

Well, my point...so many people's point...was made. It is a horrible idea and no, more guns don't mean more safe people. Spin all you want, NRA, but it isn't tree and never has been. As I said before, people aren't perfect and some people who are licensed just aren't suited to carrying guns. On top of that they aren't suited to protecting a school full of children and teachers. Even cops leave guns out in sight or in an easily accessible place at times. It DOES happen, and having more people in more schools carrying more guns just isn't the answer. It increases the probability of an accident or of some nut who is already in the school doing something awful.

Annie, do you really believe this isn't a story? If so you don't understand that this is symbolic of the whole problem with having more guns in school and untrained or poorly trained people carrying them. It is a big deal and will happen more...but with bullets...if more guns are in schools. So either you don't get it or you are on a payroll to diminish the impact of the story. Hmm...now who would like to bury this story?

WinWin4All,

On many military installations, in non-combat areas, service members are required to carry unloaded firearms, and it is for a reason, unintended discharge of the weapon. Does that hinder the effectiveness? Well, that depends on threat level, and risk assessment. If the threat and risk are minimal, it is prudent, depending on the model of firearm, it takes from 2 to 10 seconds to load from the ammo pouch to the chamber, which in most instances would be considered sufficiently effective. In this environment, a unloaded firearm would be prudent, so long as ammunition was ready at hand, as imminent threat is not in the risk assessment, and would reduce the possibility of a unintended discharge. Of course, all firearms should be considered loaded at all times, more people have been shot with 'unloaded' firearms than loaded ones.

Unloaded Glock, glock has very limited safety features. I am pro gun, but I wouldnt carry a glock loaded, because of this. A lot of people carry unlaoded IN THE CHAMBER for safety reasons, as it takes a split second to pull the slide back and its loaded. I carry a 1911, two safety''s on it and it stays loaded. When I had my Springfield, it was unlaoded because there were no viable safety features, asife from the trigger safety which is dumb.

Dont get me wrong, I think arming everyone is a bad idea, as if you are not trained to deal with situations, you will make mistakes. There are proper ways of going about this, simply put: EDUCATION. People say RWNJ's are gun clingers, guess what... most 'rednecks, country boys and gals, and southerners' are raised around guns. Do we have mass shootings? No. Why? We stop them. Do we have shootings, still? Yes. Why? Because criminals do not follow the laws to begin with. Do I agree with a license nowadays to carry? Yes. Do I think the Federal Government should be in charge? No. Do I think we need to ban semi auto weapons? No, why? Because constitution garantees the right for the average citizen access to the same weapons as the military, as its the best defense against a tyrannical government. And no, the musket is NOT a hunting weapon, it was actually military grade. Heck you can still legally own a cannon, so long as it has no explosive ordinance. Would I ever own a fully auto? No, because most intelligent, and educated people in the use of firearms know that fully auto wastes ammo, is inefficient, and can cause long term gun damage. Do I agree with background checks for private sales? Yes. Do I agree with a 15 day waiting period for an extensive background check? Yes and No, criminals dont follow laws to begin with, and most illegal trasnactions or weapons aquired by criminals is actually because of corrupted military and law enforcement, if NOT because they steal them. Do I think gun confiscation is coming? Yes, but not now, simply the framework for it. Do I think we need more gun control laws? No, because Obama has no problem letting Holder sell guns to Drug Cartels. Do I think sensible gun laws can be done without impeeding constitutional rights? Yes. Common sense folks. Man has always killed man, yes some guns are designed to KILL. Because that is the purpose of them.

FACT:

.223 is a hunting round, designed for Varmit Rifles. So, Ergo, the Ar15 is a hunting rifle. Do we need 30 rounds? No issue with it, thats not high capacity. Do I think we need 100 round drums? No, they fail easily, and are quite expensive.

7.62x54 is used by the mosin nagant, a military grade bolt action rifle, that is still one of the strongest and most powerful sniper rifles in use today, even though it was used a lot in WWII. Why dont we ban it? Because it is not a hot topic, even though the Mosin nagant within 5-6 seconds can take down 5 people, if you practice with it.

Fact is, the boy needed MENTAL help, and his mom tried to get it to him, but the police said he had to be arrested. Instead of focusing on the tool (I could go on a car killing spree if i wanted), focus on the mind. Solve the problem of the mind, and you can solve most of the society issues that cause incidents like this. I encourage you anti gun nuts to do some psychology, and you who are pro gun like me to not overreact and remain calm, and think. Right now, our country is following the same footsteps as Nazi Germany, and stuff like this is being used by our Government to DIVIDE and CONQUER us. Regardless if you are Demo or Repub, in the end we are all AMERICAN. It is our right to disagree with each other, but not to deny the rights of others. In the end, the anti gun nuts will need the gun nuts when they do go police state on us (it is the fate of all empires, incase you ahvent read history), but we, the American People will overcome. If you still think disarming America is a good idea, look up the Japense Admirals from WW2, and why they didnt invade mainland America. To weaken our 2nd Amendment is a threat to national security, you ahve a right to not use your 2nd amendment right, but you do not have the right to deny other LAW ABIDING citizens of their rights.

Parents should be teaching gun safety to their kids. You may not have guns in your home, but the homes they play at just might. Be responsible. Teach your children gun safety.

I grew up around guns, my children grew up around guns, as have my grandchildren. Simple and basic lesson they can comprehend. My kids knew this - my grandchildren know this. Guns are not left out or in reach of children at our home. But they weren't always at our home.

STOP! DON'T TOUCH! LEAVE THE ROOM! GET AN ADULT!

http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Gun_Safety_-_City_of_Mesa.pdf

You, too, can help save lives by simple education.

Aw jeez. "I fawgot."

1. There is no such thing as an unloaded gun. Safety Training 101

2. Even if the gun was only left behind "for a few moments", you can't say that no child was endangered. How many moments does it take for a gun to be fired?

Bet he was a union man ...

@djdrew201

Well put.

Suggestion for private sales: The penalties (incarceration and/or forfeiture) for any gun related offenses committed by the buyer shall also apply to the seller. Automatically, no defense. Also would apply to owner if gun is lent or rented.

If a gun is obtained by theft, the same penalties shall apply, but any jail time may be reduced, but not eliminated, by a court proceeding. (Keep your guns safe - strict liability!)

So much for the NRA with Guns in Schools, the Nuts are the people running the NRA !!!

Almost as if on cue, the very first comment spews out the punchline of this article. If no kids were exposed to an unloaded gun, why even report it? More important/disturbing, why report ON it? Because it makes for a good headline?

Way to add fuel to the fire burning up this country NBC, at least you'll probably sell some LensCrafters glasses!!!

Armed police or guards in schools is nothing new. They are already in schools all over the country, just not all schools. As for this guard, I didn't see where he was fired, but he should have been and then replaced with someone else. There should be zero tolerance for this type of "forgetfulness". My thoughts are that the cities should assign regular police to the schools either on a permanent or rotating basis and the cost should be born by the city or maybe by federal grants. The NRA may support guards in schools but guards in schools is not new and the NRA was not the first to have this idea. So, if you are just looking for a reason to bash the NRA, I guess this is as good as any.

Sidwell Friends in DC has 9 armed guards on staff. Who attends the school? Washington DC elite's children attend Sidwell Friends, including the Obama girls.

John

What is your point? The President and the President's family have had Secret Service protection for many years. Yes, even before THIS President. The reason does not have anything to do with the type of mass killings that have happened in schools in recent years.

Yes, the Obama girls have body guards. The President, First Lady, Vice President and others also have Secret Service protection. Are you suggesting that EVERYONE should have armed protection or that NOBODY should have such protection?

Or are you just another pro-gun Obama hater who is ranting without any particular point?

NRA & GOP walk down GunDown La. !!!

I just hope this guard wasn't a NRA member or a GOP Voter because that would make him look bad !!!

Ssimmons ... you make some interesting points and without degenerating those who may disagree with them. KUDOS

I have a bit different interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. I believe strongly that "military grade" weapons refer to the "well regulated militia". However, I don't disagree that we, as Americans, have the right to own guns. I just don't feel we have the right to own "military grade" weapons.

On one point we definitely seem to agree ... the need to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals. That's why I like the idea of strengthening the LIABILITY laws and the background check laws ... to include private sale and/or transfer.

Responsible gun owners should have no problem with being responsible about their guns. Therefore, I'd like to see something that would prove they know how to use the weapon they are getting and have the means to see that the weapon is kept secured. At the very least, that would eliminate a lot of accidental shootings. I would like gun owners to be required to report a weapon lost or stolen within 24 hours of the incident. If not, they would be held liable with jail time if that gun was used in a crime or found at a crime scene. If the loss/theft is reported, no liability.

I would like to see background checks required on all sale/transfer of guns. No guns or ammunition should be available via internet/mail order and shipped to a residence (currently this varies by state). It must be done through a dealer or law enforcement center.

No convicted criminal (with the exception of minor citations) should be allowed to own a gun. Non-violent offenders could be banned for a set period (somewhat like a revoked driver's license). Anyone not legally able to own a gun would receive jail time if one is found in their possession. If they commit a crime with the gun in their possession, extra jail time is imposed -- without parole. Any gun found in possession of a criminal or at the scene of a crime is destroyed. (I would support an exception that would allow historically valuable weapons to be offered to a museum.)

There are other ideas regarding video games and mental health issues that would also come into play ... but you are right that COMMON SENSE needs to be at the forefront. To that, I would add CIVILITY and the ability to carry on a respectful national discussion WITHOUT interference of special interest groups.

"We're just going to have to refine our procedures," Fliedner told mlive.com.

Ya, refined them to keep guns (and stupid, careless carriers) out of the schools.

Ive played call of duty all my life, and have no violent tendencies. But well regulated militia, yes the question is who regulates it? Federal Government? If that happens then they are disarmed. I know most people dont agree with the military weapons view, but that was the intent. But again, as can be proven through history, its not about the tech, its about the tactics and knowledge. Sun Tzu for example, didnt need tech, he used his mind. I am an educator, I believe in it, fully. Im perfectly content with my 1911 (even with the extended mag, its 10 rounds, dual safety feature), as my sidearm choice, and my Hi point 45 carbine (uses the same mags), but the gun laws obama wants makes my carbine an assault class weapon, even though its a pistol caliber with a default OEM clip of 9 rounds. That makes no sense. Again all goes back to starting with education, then common sense laws. Schools use to have rifle teams, and we didnt have these kinds of problems, so whats happened? I am a law abiding citizen, and have no issue with certain things to qualify/own firearms. I have an issue with slowly laying the framework for complete disarmament. Unfortuantely, regardless what people see, history tells me its coming, just not like the people and the media are claiming. Things like this arent going to happen by force, but by willingness. Hitler didnt even conquer Austria with tanks and planes, they willingly gave everything over to him, so they could 'save themselves'. I fear America is doing this, now. I fear history repeating itself. Common sense, free will, and uniting of the people can stop that, and bring true sensible gun laws that do not violate the Constitution, and everyone keeps their rights.

Man, that sure was a short assignment!!

Ssimon ... I'm curious as to what age you began playing? I think that it, and games like it, are unsuitable for children and young teams. They are still forming their brains both physically and psychologically.

As to the rifle teams in HS. I think some places still do that in conjunction with JROTC programs. If not, they should. As long as the weapons are secured at a range, I have no problem with that.

Common sense, free will, and uniting of the people can stop that, and bring true sensible gun laws that do not violate the Constitution, and everyone keeps their rights.

That really says it all. Most of the people I know who are FOR some sort of gun control, are actually looking for a common sense way of curbing gun violence. But until we can get rid of the rhetoric (and just plain nastiness) of the extremists, we won't get there.

Mike in Delray wrote:

" ...Why is this even a story ???

"By Vignesh Ramachandran, Staff Writer, NBC News".....Slow news day in Bombay ??"

If the NBC News staff writer's name were Sean Murphy, would you have asked ...."Slow news day in Dublin ??"

You might believe that racist, bigoted side-comments - which you so frequently insert into your Newsvine posts, no matter the subject of the article - make your points more persuasive to others. However most people reading racist, bigoted comments simply dismiss the writer as an ignorant fool; as well they should.

Food for thought.

I started at the age of 5 with super mario world, and have no desire to do drugs (chasing good and bad mushrooms, worlds colored like an LSD trip, hills have eyes watching you.), went to shooting games really early. started off with Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64. Nowadays I play games like Star Wars: The Old Republic.. somedays I wish I could force choke people though :p

Those things are fine. That's what kids SHOULD be playing. My objection is to kids playing such things as Call of Duty and other "blood and gore" ones. I"m not sure you can draw a parallel to Mario Brothers and drugs; and Call of Duty and violence however.

As a side note, I also have no objection to older teens and adults playing them ... I just think that the young ones need to stick with Mario!

@Beth, one problem is, parents do not talk to their kids and the y get their 12 year olds Grand theft auto because xbox has become the babysitter. They think oh i stole a car, got out of jail in 5 minutes, no consequences for their actions. My parents gave me the right amount of spanking vs the right amount of being my friend when I needed it.

Agreed Simmons. I totally agree on the discipline issue and parents being parents!

They said that about television too, and maybe there is something to that. However, I think the effect is much worse with the interaction of video games.

Isn't it interesting, that two of us who, most likely, came from opposite sides of the issue, can agree on a some things? I do believe that's a result of respectful conversation.

Eh I use to be different, but then I educated myself. I had to consider myself conservative, thought everything in the bible was 100%, and believed what other people told me. My parents gave me some advice, to always do my own research, so now I simply believe in things like Jesus, who said love one another, dont hate, be understanding. Upon opening my eyes I saw all government, organized religions, the banking system, its all designed to enslave and divide us. Simply now, I am a Libertarian. Ill do what I want so long as it doesnt interfere with you, and you extend the same courteousy. You do what you want so long as you dont interefere with me. (And as long as no one or thing is being hurt in the process).

To me, that is the true essence of the Constitution. Pure Liberty, and as others, including myself put it, our God Given Rights. That is why I have sworn to defend it against all enemies both foreign AND domestic. I dont care if you are Hitler, Bin Laden, Bush, Obama, Feinstein, Billy Graham, doesnt matter. Anyone who awnts to destroy Liberty is my enemy, as they are enemies of the people.

NOT saying Billy Graham is evil mind you, I think hes a good man, just an example, I dont care what guise you come under, no matter the pretense.

Don...Did I say anything about Secret Service? Sidwell Friends employs 9 full time armed security to protect children of the DC elite. The Obamas and Clintons send their kids there, but the left is quick to dismiss armed security for YOUR children. Hypocritical, isn't it?

https://www.sidwell.edu/directories/index.aspx?FirstName=&LastName=&DepartmentTypeID=78&DivisionID=&sortBy=LastName&LinkID=&DirectoryModuleID=341&pageaction=VPFaculty

Ill do what I want so long as it doesnt interfere with you, and you extend the same courteousy. You do what you want so long as you dont interefere with me. (And as long as no one or thing is being hurt in the process).

A good rule of life. One I try to ascribe to myself.

Very well put!! I agree.

The more guns you have in school, the more likely incidents like this become.

Like all the feds who have left loaded firearms in airport bathrooms?

Who wants their gun laying on the bathroom floor after dropping their pants while taking a squat in a toilet stall? He most likely took his gun holster off while going to the bathroom, the hung it on the door hook. He just forgot to grab it after flushing, or maybe wanted to wash his hands first. He probably probably noticed it missing once he started walking down the hall, so he went back to get it.

Not sure why his weapon wasn't loaded, unless his name was Deputy Fife.

This is really about NBC anti gun agenda...ALL WE SEE are articles about the negative impacts of guns...NEVER an article about how guns saved the day.

Robert Blake is one of the NRA most regarded members !!!

You can lambast this security guard all you want, and complain parents should be teaching their kids to leave unattended guns alone all you want. I will GUARANTEE that the more guns you insist on putting in schools, the more chances there will be for this kind of thing to happen. I will also GUARANTEE that at some point that one of those guns will end up in the wrong hands. Statistically, a gun in a house has a lot higher odds of being used on someone IN the house than on an invader. Plan on seeing that statistic hold true if the "house" is a school.

I love how you Libs take out all of the stats about how the majority of legal gun owners are responsible people who have never shot anyone. You realize most of gang murders and the most recent mass shooting are done with weapons obtained illegally. Sorry but all a ban will do s take guns away from those 90% of responsible people who get their gun legally and let the criminals have the guns they weren't supposed to have in the first place. Also there a way more people killed with handguns and knives and stuff like that then by these things Obama wants to ban. Common Sense no longer applies to America.

The article did say that the gun was unloaded , right ? For as bad as this sounds, we don't know the full story , just the end result , and for some , I guess that's all that matters. Leaving a firearm unattended is inexcusable , but a man of his record and 37 years of experience , I'd rather have him there than not . Some are just beginning this process and learning.

I love how all the teabaggers think that gasoline is the only remedy for a fire.

Common sense is alive and well in the country for those not allergic to it.

The gun was unloaded? Don't we always hear that you treat every gun as if it's loaded? And if it was truly unloaded, what good is it when the forces of evil storm the school?

Guns in schools - what can go wrong.....

Imagine the HR nightmare of hiring and training tens of thousands of people to serve as armed school guards. It would end up being the American equivalent of the Afghan police. A mixed bag of seniors, unemployed losers, gun nuts, cop wannabes, pedophiles, mixed in with a few decent folks. Stories about how teachers having sex with students would soon be overshadowed with stories about accidental shootings, stolen guns, wasted money, wrong reactions in a crisis situation, and tons of law suits.

If gun nuts want unrestricted access to semi automatic weapons with high capacity magazines then they can take a vacation to Somalia and live out their fantasies there instead of trying to impose their ignorant paranoiac world view on the rest of us.

Airhammer,

You got that right. Big potential for law suits and the taxpayer will pay. The NRA will just have a good laugh on us for being stupid enough to go along with guns in school.

We got lucky this time. The gun was not loaded. However, if some crazy breaks down the door and comes in shooting... how much good is an unloaded gun in the hands of the school guard going to do?? And if it's loaded, how long before a curious child finds it? Guns do NOT belong in schools!!! Better security procedures, maybe, but that didn't help the teachers and students at Newtown. Getting military assault weapons off the street and out of the hands of amateurs may take time but it is the only answer. I'm grateful every single day that my kids are grown and will never have to face going to school in this gun crazy America.

There are no military assault weapons on the street. Military assault rifles have fully automatic firing capability and are illegal for civilians to possess. What you libs are talking about getting off the street are rifles that look like military assault weapons but operate the same as any other rifle with a detachable magazine--any differences are purely cosmetic.

Hbebe... Sorry but hiding behind definitions doesn't fool sensible people anymore. I've watched several demonstrations on You-Tube of how to turn your "innocent" semi-automatic into essentially fully automatic by simply using the gun's recoil to keep it firing continuously. Nice try to ignore the point of the article and the point of the comment but it won't wash. Guns have no place in schools... period.

Guns are not going to be confiscated, so people who currently have guns, will always have guns until the end of time, even with a ban. Even if they were confiscated, nobody knows who has them, so that is a futile effort. Banning any sort of weapon is ridiculous. The cops have never even said what kind of gun killed those kids. Most reports say it was a pistol, and the rifle was still in his vehicle. Also, the killer didn't buy the gun or have to go through a background check. The gun belonged to his mother, who did have a background check. He stole the weapon from where she had it locked up.

I believe there was a fourth gun in the vehicle, he had the bushmaster in the school. Whether he used it I have not heard.

warrren,

It's only a ridiculous story because no child had to use the bathroom in the time between when the guard left his gun and when he realized it was missing.

but the gun was Unloaded

Ridiculous story, or just a story you don't want to hear?

The more guns there are in school, the more likely that some of these guns will be in the hands of students. Maybe, the guard sets the gun down, and a student runs off with it. Maybe, the gun is locked up (allegedly), and a student steals it. Maybe, ...

Perhaps, one of these guns in school will prevent a tragedy. Or, perhaps one of these guns will create a tragedy. Which will happen most often? (Most of these guns in schools will be in schools that will never be attacked...)

An unloaded gun doesn't do squat for protection.

It's only a "ridiculous story" to you because you don't want to hear it.

Or maybe the kid who wants or needs a gun, brings it from home? Just the mere suggestion that some kid is going to find a gun laying around, then decides to go on a killing spree, is laughable.

BP, really? An angry kid comes upon a gun. Let's see. We never in our history have had someone who was already unstable get hands on a gun and use it? Perhaps your tolerance threshold is only having a few people dead and you don't consider that a spree so it doesn't count? A kid wouldn't have to take it and use it immediately, but stick it in a backpack for later, you know, and maybe only kill his parents and himself...is that acceptable loss for you?

This is ridiculous to those who don't like to see the facts on this topic. The reality is that a child could have found this and kept it, it could have been loaded and the kids killed just picking it up, and this does point out why more guns aren't the answer. My kids' school has has a police resource officer in a small office in the main office and I am fine with that, and that is because he does many things and doesn't just "guard" the school with his gun. But having retired cops, security people, armed parents (umm, no way) and staff armed isn't the answer here.

Just the mere suggestion that some kid is going to find a gun laying around, then decides to go on a killing spree, is laughable.

Surely you must of heard of gun accidents, particularly involving kids, right?

When I was a kid, I remember one of my friends finding a .45 ACP somewhere, and one of us coming up with his step dads bullets. We took it out in the desert to fire off a few rounds when it jammed. Kid firing it looked down the barrel at one point when trying to figure why it was jammed, until I grabbed his arm. That naïve, ignorant moment could have ended very badly, and I think about it a lot when it comes to kids being around guns. It doesn't matter how well you educate YOURS. There WILL be kids who don't know better, and they're going to be right there with yours.

And it is happening today, tomorrow and every day. Most times we, the public are not informed of the occurances. Big embarrassment to the school administration, and the gun nut lobby, and the gun nut politicians.

Exactly, IMHO. Think about all the other instances where the guy realized he left it and runs back to grab it, and quietly pretends nothing happened.

I am so sick and tired of these posters that begin off with "You libs" and then proceed to blame us for their stupidity. Go away to some place where everyone and their dog carries a gun. It would not be long until the civilized world no longer have to deal with this mental illness.

And that makes it ok, that he leaves a loaded (must assume he keeps it loaded) fire arm where a random staff member may pick it up. Say the mental janitor, or the fed up crosswalk monitor.

IMHO-2730490..(#9.1)..."And that makes it ok, that he leaves a loaded (must assume he keeps it loaded)"

Reading comprehension helps before posting....

From the article..."School officials at The Chatfield School in Lapeer, Mich., told mlive.com the officer left an unloaded weapon in a restroom "for a few moments" on Monday. No children were put in danger or exposed to the handgun, school director Matt Young told mlive.com."

You assume incorrectly....

Unloading his weapon while he "used the facilities" and it wasn't at his ready disposal was the prudent thing to do, the article is quite lacking in details, as in maybe another school employee saw it on the sink counter after Security washed his hands.....and ran to the office

This certainly is a story with a LOT left out. Whatever happened to to who, what, when, where, how?

When was the last time staff and children shared a restroom???

Ummmm, when I was in elementary school, junior high, and high school, the faculty shared restrooms with us. And this was recent, I'm only in my early 20's.

I worked at a school were the staff and students shared bathrooms.

ya ri, but my point still get accross ri ? At least I hope so :)

Yes, the price of freedom, eh? /s

Agreed!

Ironic for sure!

Nowhere in the story does it state that the gun was forgotten, or anything else to explain the whole circumstance.

Hmm, spike. You have a point there! Perhaps he left it there on purpose. That would make it all okay? What is your point? A gun was there and shouldn't have been. Either way this guy doesn't need to be around anyone with his gun.

Was school in session? Was it a staff restroom? If he was alone, from whom did the story come from? Many, many, unaddressed questions.

Good point. Leaving a gun out in a bathroom that other people...most likely kids...use is a much better idea than getting it a bit dirty. Oh, and setting it on the floor is a great idea as well....in sight where kids go? Hmm...sounds like a great scenario all around!

i wouldnt call anyone the NRA picks as a good person.

You mean like those minimum wage, security guards did when they were turned down by law enforcement or the military? Not to implicate all security but they are out there...

This guard WAS a retired police officer. This just shows how futile getting more guns into schools would help. However, getting more guns into schools would help the real supporters of the NRA, the gun makers.

I would certainly hope they would report that as it would be news as opposed to say... the next iPhone or who got kicked off Dancing. NBC is failing but it's certainly not due to reporting REAL news.

I get tired of this too. But if you don't like or despise NBC NEWS... WHY are you here? Is it because there really aren't any good news sources these days that are any better than NBC News?

Just gotta wonder...

Ed, going out in public is rather unavoidable. Sending my kids to a school where teachers are carrying guns or there are armed guards all around isn't happening. Not the same thing, although I'd be happier knowing people around me in those public places weren't carrying either.

Hmm..I didn't see that in the story. Are you by any chance making that up?