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Guest Editorial
by Jeannie Lewis

Students you have made us aware. You've protested in Washington and in other parts of the country. Some of you have talked to the president of the United States. Seemingly you have his attention. We adults get your message loud and clear. Something has to be done regarding school shooters. It has to happen right now, so let's start a conversation.
I believe you can come up with the way to stop this madness that is taking the lives of so many young people. Seventeen people killed at Marjory Stoneman school in Florida is a direct call to you for action.
Put your best "thinking caps" on and come up with the answer to: "How do we secure our schools." How can we secure our schools TODAY, right this minute--not next week, not next year nor five years from now as we've seen happening-as we've waited for somebody else to get the job done. Meanwhile 500 or more precious lives have so needlessly been buried in cementaries throughout the nation.
We secure silver and gold and all kinds of precious jewels. We know that it is possible. So how can we best secure our schools so our own most precious jewell are safe from persons who definitely need mental health intervention--the school shooters.
We definitely need gun control. No civilian needs to have a weapon or an accessory (bump stock) that can mow down a huge number of people before anyone can even get in a position to do something to prevent the horrific acts we've seen time after time when a shooter goes on a rampage.
"Mental health. Gun Control. Doing something about it will take too long for anything that will truly keep you safe. Legislatures and others in power seemingly have their brains in their feet and do nothing at all that really helps. Actually what sticks in my mind is for them to say after a school shooting: "Now isn't the time to talk about gun control." Students you might be asking, "If not now. When."
Students you must ask and demand that our representatives in Washington and Madison quit whistling in the wind or sharpening their pencils but doing nothing to prevent a shooter from obtaining a gun. Make them pass universal laws regarding background checks. States with consistent background checks suffer half as many mass shootings. How many times did the shooter in Florida cause police to respond? How many warning/cries for help perhaps do we need before appropriate action is taken. What was done to save those innocent children--and teachers who sacrifice their own lives to save the lives of their students.... lives cut so short so abruptly and so needlessly? A background check and mental health dates may have helped prevent the sacrifice of so many lives. Speculations and what ifs won't bring back any of the lives lost but let's give it serious thought.
Schools have to be secured. Why not start with locked doors after teachers and students arrival and going home times. Anyone wanting to get in can pull out their smart phone and ask permission to come in-that would give our police in schools a chance to take note of the situation. Too simple. Probably. Well what if we had metal detectors outside that door to warn the police officer of a potential shooter. What if we put the metal detector inside and after someone with hardware enters that first door--a second door and the first door would lock immediately if they set off the alarm. I don't know the answer. Students start a conversation. I have faith in you--you can get the job done.