More than pacifiers

Recently, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial page rightfully stated that common sense should guide the policies our government enacts. This is especially true for any policy that purports to protect children from gun violence in schools.

Common sense and research tell us that more guns in more places doesn’t make us safer. Pacifying the outcry against gun violence by focusing on dangerous policies like arming teachers ignores our stark reality; we need to prevent people with bad intentions from getting guns and taking them to schools. As we learned from the shootings in Parkland and Santa Fe, armed security and personnel do not make schools any less likely to experience gun violence. If someone intent on doing harm can get on school grounds with a gun, we’ve failed our kids.

We must focus on passing evidence-based policies like red-flag laws, which allow law enforcement and family members to petition a court to temporarily restrict someone’s access to guns when they present a risk to themselves or others. A report by Everytown for Gun Safety found that in 42 percent of cases between 2009-2016, shooters exhibited warning signs. Red-flag laws prevent people who could harm our children from getting a gun and are proven lifesavers.

As a gun owner, I understand the instinct to believe that harm cannot befall those you love if you carry. But a multitude of research and data confirm that simply is untrue. Arming teachers allows us to feel like we’ve done something when we’ve only amplified the risks. Our children deserve more than pacifiers. Let’s direct our attention towards real solutions that have proven abilities to keep kids safe.

KATE FLETCHER

Little Rock