Delco officials search for gun violence solutions

MORTON » Following the mass murder at a Parkland, Fla., high school last week that killed 17, state Sen. Thomas McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, met with area school superintendents on Wednesday to discuss keeping their tens of thousands of students safe.

The conversation between the top educators and the local legislator lasted for about an hour at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit in Morton as they proposed ideas that will keep the county’s schools safe.

“There are evil and/or disturbed individuals who want to harm our teachers and children with a multitude of weapons and we cannot allow them access to educational facilities,” said McGarrigle. “This unfortunately will require change and, often times, inconveniences that many people will not like.

“However, when terrorists seized two planes and flew them into the World Trade Center over 16 years ago our entire system of flying changed and now how we think of the security of our educational facilities must change as well.”

Points of discussion at the closed-door meeting included those of mental illness, security systems (cameras, fully functioning public address systems, secure first-floor windows) and secured entry points into schools called sally ports.

Reported to be unanimously opposed to at the meeting was the idea to arm teachers in effort

SAFETY » PAGE 6