Douglas County schools to issue semiautomatic rifles to security staff

[bluedigger]

he Douglas County School District plans to arm its security staff with 10 semiautomatic rifles designed to provide a high-powered defense in the event of a shooting or other violent incident.

Richard Payne, director of security, said he made the decision to spend more than $12,000 on the Bushmaster "long guns" in January after noting his security officers, equipped only with handguns, were training "hand to hand" with the sheriff's office, which used the larger weapons.

"We want to make sure they have the same tools as law enforcement," Payne said Monday of his eight armed officers.

The first few rifles should be ready for use within a month's time once officers have gone through a 20-hour training course, the same one that commissioned police officers take. The rest of the guns will be deployed in August, he said.

...

Payne said the decision to buy the rifles was his and the Douglas County school board had not discussed it or voted on it.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29783261/douglas-county-schools-issue-semiautomatic-rifles-security-staff

[bluedigger]

3. I sure wouldn't introduce them into a school system on my own initiative.

I wonder if he makes it to his next performance review.

[WhiteTara]

2. Wow. That is really stepping over the bounds of security office

It seems that the school board should be making that decision on how to spend the education money.

[bluedigger]

4. Once they told him he could order his own supplies, the arms race was on, I guess.

[WhiteTara]

5. Here I thought supplies meant office paper and pencils

not major weapons.

[bluedigger]

6. I guess they weren't clear enough.