Following the Valentine’s Day shooting deaths of five students at Northern Illinois University, a good friend of mine expressed her dismay at so many senseless deaths.
She wondered aloud if metal detectors should be installed at all U.S. colleges. After all, the 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech is still fresh in everyone’s mind. Now the NIU tragedy.
While metal detectors may sound like a good idea and I wouldn’t oppose them, I don’t think they can prevent a determined wacko from doing great harm.
In 2005, a 16-year-old boy in Minnesota shot and killed seven people at his high school. First, he walked through the school’s metal detector – killing the guard in the process. He then shot the rest of his victims.
The NIU gunman probably would have done the same thing. You’d almost have to turn schools into armed camps to prevent a shooting rampage, and I’m not sure that’s a good idea.
Also, someone intent on doing gross harm could simply move his target to another public setting, such as a shopping mall (witness the December 2007 shooting deaths of nine people at an Omaha shopping mall). What about night clubs, movie theatres, ice rinks, grocery stores and restaurants? Do we want to walk through a metal detector at every public venue? And how do you secure a Pop Warner football game or amateur soccer match in a wide open area?
I probably have more questions than answers on this issue. Do we need more vigorous enforcement of existing gun laws (though both the NIU and Virginia Tech gunmen bought their weapons legally)? Tougher gun laws (though some determined shooters simply acquire guns illegally)? Greater vigilance by friends and family members of anyone who might turn violent (though the NIU shooter apparently didn’t give any indication of what he was about to do)? Less societal emphasis in mass media on living in a gun culture (though how do you put the genie back in the bottle)?
My guess is that the answer is a combination of ideas, and I’m open to all suggestions…..
Posted by robertpeek 
