The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

To The Eagle:

Even if Obama and his minions got every gun control and background check law they wanted, the next school shooting will go off as planned or conceived or whatever serves as creative fermentation in the minds of the deranged souls who do these things. Lifting the punch line from an old joke: They are crazy, not stupid. No matter what the law reads, they will equip themselves with whatever armament, artillery or explosive device suits their feverish fantasies.

Here’s a thought experiment: The population of the United States is around 315 million while public school count runs about 100 thousand. Which is easier -- getting 315 million folks to obey the law, or installing a fence accompanied by very modest security precautions around each school? The emphasis here is on modest. We’re not preventing terrorist infiltration, military invasion, or a siege by Visigoths and Huns. Limiting access and paying attention should do the trick.

Perimeter security would also contribute to the solution of two other problems: Eliminating drugs, and traffic safety. Local food for thought: Cathlamet’s schools are clustered on one compact campus, making security easier and cheaper. And if Longview goes through with school consolidation, they’ll have fewer campuses to protect.

Howard Brawn

Puget Island