SHOOTING: Aftermath analysis

I would like to comment on the school shooting that happened in Rigby, Idaho, on Thursday, May 6. If there had been armed employees in that school it could have been so much worse. Thankfully no one died, including the obviously disturbed young girl who was the shooter. The following points make this even more credible.

Idaho provides excellent examples of school safety:

• All teachers and students did exactly as they have practiced from their statutorily mandated annual safety plans.

• Professional law enforcement did exactly as they have practiced and collaborated among agencies — including the federal partners from FBI.

• A child female suspect was also saved by not being shot in confusion or by a trigger-happy employee unaware of what exactly had transpired.

• We do not need employees with firearms at schools, we need mental health programs and safe storage laws.

• How did the child access the firearm? Why wasn’t the firearm locked and secured properly?

• We need safe storage laws in Idaho to keep children safe.

To our legislators: We also need funding for more counselors and social workers in schools to deal with emotional and disturbed young people such as this child is. Mental health counseling is an important component of public education, not guns in schools. Those would only lead to more tragedy.

ALICE ARAMBARRI

Coeur d’Alene