Good morning fellow 4runners. I'm new here, actually here one day, but a returning member after I dropped off the deep end and traded my 2002 runner for a Jeep Wrangler. Son now has the Jeep and I now have a new 2013 4runner Limited.
I managed to read about 6 or 7 pages of the varying points of views on the Florida shooting and then just skipped to the last page so I could reply. So if I'm stating anything that has already been stated from pages 7-17, please accept my apology. I heard numerous points of view that I totally agree with, and then some that I don't see as feasible solutions.
I'm retired federal law enforcement, baby boomer, moderate conservative, southern baptist born and raised in East Texas. So, with that being said don't presume or speculate what my position is on this issue. In high school I drove a pickup with a gun rack mounted on the rear window, and it was loaded with a shotgun and a .22 rifle.
THAT WAS THEN, BUT THIS IS NOW. TIMES ARE DIFFERENT, GENERATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, SOCIETY IS DIFFERENT.
For me, and I'm sure I will have some negative responses to this, but I see the solution or response as a three legged stool
Leg 1. Gun control: While working on my Criminal Justice degree I did a research project on gun control for the state of Massachusetts. My results showed that after gun control was implemented, homicides with firearms decreased tremendously. Homicides with edged weapons and others, increased tremendously. I own several weapons and support the right of citizens to own weapons and the ability to protect themselves, BUT I have unfortunately come to the conclusion that we may need to limit or restrict average citizens under a certain age, or any age, from purchasing or owning high capacity weapons and limit their use to law enforcement and military.
Leg 2. Mental illness: I think there should be more management put into those with documented mental illness. There is NO CURE for mental illness or disabilities, you can only manage and maintain. I know this personally having a 23 year old son with Aspergers who refuses to take any meds or go to counseling.
Leg 3. Campus safety: After 9/11 I was dispatched to the DFW International Airport to assume security of the entire airport with whatever resources were available. We did not ban airplanes or implement plane control after 9/11. We HARDENED THE TARGET. Unfortunately we are in a day and age, much like Israel and other countries, where seeing heavily armed guards or law enforcement at places of worship and learning is the norm. I think there should be more thought into hardening the target at schools, eg: fences with razor wire and one entry/exit point that is staffed with professional armed security, access ID badges required, visitors check in/out log, etc.....,
This is not and should not be a political issue. It is an American issue, a parent issue, and a society issue where we all collectively have to decide what proper course of action to ensure safety at our schools, churches, theaters, concerts, malls, ......, all of which are open public soft target rich environments.
I am in the business of protecting highly visible VIP's, which includes extensive security screening and vetting. I have to remind people every day that security is a necessary inconvenience.
Thanks for allowing me to offer my perspective on this current issue of concern and I do offer my prayers and condolences to those victims of yet another American tragedy in Florida.