A volunteer force of grandparent-age folks for school security?

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Absolutely. Combat is a young man's game.

The first thing I thought of when I read the o.p. was that, if the few really bad students in the school figured out that the old man on the corner had a gun they would simply attack him from behind and take his gun. That scenario is akin to why I understand the reason I'm not allowed to keep a gun in my truck on school property. All my students know I'm a hunter. If one of them wanted a gun, it wouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to just go break a window in my truck and take the gun.

It saddens me to think how far we’ve come in a bad way. In the early 1980s when I was in high school, I remember pickup trucks in the parking lot with shotguns hanging in the old style rack along the back window. Many of them would be left with the windows open! And if I was betting I wouldn’t be surprised if some had keys left in them.

Now that school has a huge fear of MS13 as one of its real big problems. There’s a homeless camp a mile or so away where people come from that break into cars for loose change and anything else of value that they can steal and turn in to quick cash.
 
Grandparents can be a great help in a completely different way, and that is to actually be grandparents.

Take the youngsters shooting, hunting, and fishing, teach them respect for our country and its traditions, fill in gaps in their education, and tell them stories about their parents. Unfortunately a majority of grandparents are just like the rest of society, and totally self-absorbed.

If you don't have children or grandchildren, then find other ways to mentor youngsters.
 
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I see a number of calls to use "veterans" in this role.
This bothers me on several levels. For one, that the veterans are "retired" and living off fat pensions and are idle every day. Retried military personnel typically still have bills to pay and mouths to feed, which means they largely have 8-5 jobs just like the rest of us.
Further, not all veterans are "veterans." For every 0300 or 11B there are a lot of people who get no closer to "the sound of the guns" than the reams of paperwork from the supply closet allow. I know some really exceptional commo and crypto people who are a great a credit to their Service as can be measured--but, I'd think twice before putting them in ILBG in a school.

Now, to the grandparents in schools idea; it has merit as an idea, but significant problems in execution. I have designed schools. I have renovated schools; schools are a unique environment to maintain situational awareness. For 50 minutes nothing much happens, then, there's 10-15 minutes' chaos with no more direction or order or reason than an equal number of squirrels, wrens, and cats.

Campuses od schools cover acres not square feet, by and larges (and far more so in affluent school districts, where the problems occur). Building codes rquire exits at prescribed distances, so those are frequent, and must needs be inexpensive.

Who ever is selected, expected, assigned to be the prevention "resource" will need to be able to prowl long, empty halls, and monitor a few dozen exits, with some sort of frequency, and with asymmetry, to prevent "cracking" the routine. The parties for this will have to be there for the 180 days the school is open, and not off on doctor's appointments, or sightseeing, or just sleeping in.

I know I'd be a terrible SRO, my aches and pains and intolerance would have me beat the whippersnappers silly as is; I have no idea what would happen when actual schoolchilluns appear and see their teachers & staff somewhat worse for wear.
Harumph.
 
I see a number of calls to use "veterans" in this role.
This bothers me on several levels. For one, that the veterans are "retired" and living off fat pensions and are idle every day. Retried military personnel typically still have bills to pay and mouths to feed, which means they largely have 8-5 jobs just like the rest of us.
Further, not all veterans are "veterans." For every 0300 or 11B there are a lot of people who get no closer to "the sound of the guns" than the reams of paperwork from the supply closet allow. I know some really exceptional commo and crypto people who are a great a credit to their Service as can be measured--but, I'd think twice before putting them in ILBG in a school.

Now, to the grandparents in schools idea; it has merit as an idea, but significant problems in execution. I have designed schools. I have renovated schools; schools are a unique environment to maintain situational awareness. For 50 minutes nothing much happens, then, there's 10-15 minutes' chaos with no more direction or order or reason than an equal number of squirrels, wrens, and cats.

Campuses od schools cover acres not square feet, by and larges (and far more so in affluent school districts, where the problems occur). Building codes rquire exits at prescribed distances, so those are frequent, and must needs be inexpensive.

Who ever is selected, expected, assigned to be the prevention "resource" will need to be able to prowl long, empty halls, and monitor a few dozen exits, with some sort of frequency, and with asymmetry, to prevent "cracking" the routine. The parties for this will have to be there for the 180 days the school is open, and not off on doctor's appointments, or sightseeing, or just sleeping in.

I know I'd be a terrible SRO, my aches and pains and intolerance would have me beat the whippersnappers silly as is; I have no idea what would happen when actual schoolchilluns appear and see their teachers & staff somewhat worse for wear.
Harumph.
When I think veteran in the context of volunteers I think of any with relevent experience. There are many many thousands who are ex law enforcement and other specialised units. Many have to work - I do. But many are willing to donate some time, and many are already doing it in various places as needed.
 
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