By Bryant Romero—

Should NJCU consider arming its guards? The campus overwhelmingly does not the support the idea of having security guards armed with firearms here at the University.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, the issue of armed guards at all echelons of education became a topic of much heated debate since head of the NRA (National Rifle Association) Wayne LaPierre suggested a proposal to have armed police officers posted at every school in order prevent the next killer from plotting another massacre. There have been numerous school shootings since 1999: Columbine, Redlake Massacre, Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, Okios University, Lone Star College shooting, and recently Sandy Hook Elementary during that time span.

When asked, Bruce Harmon Director of Public Safety said, “I am not aware of any discussions regarding the arming of security officers.”

“I don’t think the guards should be armed. They would have to be trained and go through background checks,” said TJ Gant, 28, art major from Bayonne.

“It’s kind of a scary idea, but it can go either way,” said Aileen Harney, 20, undecided from Bayonne. “I know some people will feel that it will make things safer, but it will make me feel uneasy.”

“I think they need the guns in the area, it’s Jersey City,” said Charles Lolima, 22, music performance major from Jersey City. “Not necessarily will I feel safer, they (the guards) can get trigger happy.”

Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, school officials across the country have been reviewing security protocols at schools, which include lockdown drills, building entry procedures, and whether to hire more armed guards. It has left the nation divided on the issue. Some people feel children need the protection, while others think allowing additional guns into school promotes a culture of violence.

Michael Rokas, 25, Finance Major from Bayonne said he had a friend, who was an armed guard, who was shot while being armed as a security guard.

“I wouldn’t feel safe because if something bad happens they are allowed to shoot,” said Rokas.

According to the National Center for educational statistics, about 28,300 schools around the country (just under one third of all public schools already) have an armed security staff on campus with 20% in primary schools, 54% in middle schools, and 68% in high schools. Big cities across the nation like Albuquerque, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and St. Louis all have armed officers in schools either by contracting them through local police forces, or by recruiting their own security staff. However, cities like New York and Boston place only unarmed security officers according to The Council of Great City Schools.

The decision on whether to place security officers with guns in schools is up to the local districts. However, with a lack of funding and constrained school budgets it’s unlikely there will be a large amount of hiring of armed security officers. President Obama agrees with the NRA and wants to propose federal funding for armed guards with a comprehensive school safety program that would give $150 million to school districts and law enforcement agencies in order to hire school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers, and counselors.

“I believe in school safety, but to have guns here is too much,” said Joe Luma, 30, English major from Bayonne. “I wouldn’t want someone to watch over me like that.”