SWOPblogger

I couldn't agree more monica...guns are not for schools...
 

I think the should be armed. If parents these days were more strict with their kids instead of letting them walk all over them maybe there would not be ny violence in the school. If kids behaved at home maybe it would follow them to school and they would not get into trouble. Kids these days are out of control. They destroy anything as long as it does not belong to them, but if it is theirs heaven forbid if anything happens to it. Kids have no respect for adults.
 

Look at it this way people. Arming the APS-PD is not meant to make the kids scared. It is for their safety. Look at how many crazy people are out running the streets. If you look at other cities like El Paso Tx they have a dept with in the police force that handles just the schools. This makes the learning environment safe for the kids.
 

Individual parenting tatics are now the issue right now. The issue is creating a culture of violence that surrounds young people and creates a pipeline to prison. For young people additudes to change they need to feel valued and have progreams that develop them. Gun only give them the feel that adults only think think they are gonna create trouble and the solution to that is a loaded gun. When actually adults should support and have faith. We have amazing young people in this city!
 

You are a damn fool and out of touch with reality. I have over 21 years of experience in law enforcement and have a young child in school that has been brought up with respect for firearms and authority. APS has some great kids attending school, but there are also some that have no respect for other students, Teachers, or Police. You also lack the knowledge that there are already a few Police SRO's (APD & BCSO) that are armed and have been for years (with no incidents). I feel safer knowing that if some deranged individual comes onto APS property with a weapon to elude capture or to cause mayhem or if a student decides that life is so bad that he/she wants to take out a list of people, my child has a chance of coming home with an armed well trained Officer at the school. Oh and by the way having firearms around my child has not affected her performace at school as she has a 3.75 GPA. It's not your fault that you don't know the facts because the APS school board does'nt have a clue either.
 

Earth to the wealthy and the elders, and yes I am saying wealthy and elders because I am willing to put money on it that every single person who is in favor of having guns in schools is most likely come from wealthy communities or they are SO old they’re not even in school any more. Guns are ment to kill people! PERIOD! Now let’s just take a second and think about it, do you really want your child to be in a situation which they should be focusing on their education to be around something has the potential to kill them! Yeah well as a young person I damn well sure that that is not what I want to be taking my standard eyes test around. And let’s face it since you’re so concerned about our wild teens running around being crazy like we know how then why aren’t the parents focusing more on controlling their own kids then blaming schools? I mean let’s be realistic having a gun in schools is not going to address the real issue of a teen being out of control. In fact if you grew up in the ghetto like I did and some kid was really out of control putting a gun in their face is only going to cause for more potentially dangerous problems. Yeah and that includes crazy people too. Cause if you point a gun in another armed person face then what so you think is really going to happen? A shoot out, and what kind of school is safe with there is potential for a shoot out or people to killed! Not a good school I’ll tell you that! So let’s face the facts, if you really so concern about the students safety, well being, and what not you should create another plan in which won’t involve police officers being given the chance to criminalize young people any further because we have enough to worry about as it is.
 

Oh as for the Officer I just to have to tell you this… as a police officer you see us young people as just another pay check. Another poor idiot to make your dollar, and another person to throw in jail rather then to help out. . I can clearly see that through you bitter disregard for young people. My only advise to you is to be careful, As long as there will be cops there will be criminals and you have a daughter who you clearly love with her wonderful GPA that you seem to be so proud of. But young people make mistakes, and I am sure some other cop with no regard for young people just like you may see her just like you see us, just another dollar sign.
 

Damn fool huh....I think there are better ways address the ways in which we disagree. Which perfectly displays how someone who has 21 year of experience can think they know more and look down upon our young people. Then add a gun the power dynamic’s are unsafe. We don’t need armed officer in our schools that only think our youth make trouble that will only lead them to further criminalize a population that is already targeted. And then bring in race and class issues of oppression and we will just have more you people of color going to jail instead of to college where they could then come back and contribute to our community. We should focus on developing leaders and inmates. I am glad you have had a positive healthy environment to raise your daughter in which she was able to make a 3.7 GPA we should give others the same healthy experience void of armed officers that only think they are criminals. You believed in your daughter but it seems you as well as others don't believe in youth in general and that additude doesn't belong in schools just like guns don't.
 

Correction sorry we should focus on developing leaders NOT inmates.
 

Thank you to all the people who responded to this blog. I appreciate each and every comment, even if I don’t completely agree with it. That is what makes our country so awesome, Freedom of speech! As I read this blog, a few questions came to mind…

Are we creating a place were students have access to quality teachers, councilors and educational equipment, a place were young people feel safe?
Or are we creating an environment where armed guards roam the halls?
Are we training our youth to take roles as doctors, lawyers, social-workers and city council members? Or are we training youth to take roles as criminals and convicts?
The answers the school board decides for these questions will make an impact on many many lives. I have faith that they will make the right choice for New Mexico’s future.
It’s easy to think that having cops with pistols in the schools will make our children safer. A more challenging task, however, is to give our children the attention, respect and love they so desperately need in these times.

Please don’t give up on the youth. They need us now, more that ever.

-God Bless
 

Throughout time unfortunately, youth have always been seen as disrespectful and having no regard for authority or cops.

Let’s recall the hippies! Probably the most radical generation many of us can remember right? What was said about them? So let’s end that argument there.

Second, what many youth have been screaming for is help. Our schools our failing them, community centers are jam packed, athletic and extra curricular activities are being cut.

What this also says is that the current systems in place to deal with “disrespectful kids,” or those that don’t have an outlet are not working.

What makes anyone think that by having guns in schools is going to change a teenager’s life for the better? How does that fit?

It fits because we have told them, taught them, and now believe that they are not worth the investment. They are so outlandish, scary and out of control that the only way respect will come about, is through guns. What we say with guns is that they are not worth the investment in their talents and self-esteem.

I can see what Emma was saying. Economic class plays a huge role. Our relationship to guns and cops are very different from those in the upper class and white neighborhoods.

We (working class people of color) have been the target of violence, racism and discrimination from cops. We have been racially profiled and jammed into unfair stereotypes. There is no trust that these law enforcement officials have our best interest and future in minds.

So the reality of many many high school students is that weapons are a threat. They are not safe and they are meant to kill, it doesn’t matter who has them.

Also here’s a fact for you, having a threatening person come onto a campus is SO extremely rare. You are more likely to be struck by lighting TWICE before being involved in a campus shooting.

I ask myself, what if we were to have guns…then what. Some parents would feel safe….and then what…..

There will still not be enough outlets, programs, education, sports or other healthy mechanisms for the youth to succeed. And then we’re back to square one.

So let’s get to the real problem and fix it.
 

I believe the problem I see is that Emma and Monica have a problem in what a Police Officers duties are. Yes they are in fact to uphold the laws and protect lives and property. But most Police Officers are there to act as mentors. I too grew up in the south valley (or as some would call the "ghetto"), the only thing I tried to do was better myself and family. As I hope everyone would. When I grew up we did not have Officers in our schools, unfortunately now is a different time and age. We now have to fear terror attacks, gang fights are no longer just fights. You are only fooling yourselves if you don't beleive there are already guns on school grounds. Our (yes I am also a Police Officer) mission is not to take students to jail, but in fact to maintain a safe learning environment. I never felt so proud as I did when one of MY students, who was a gang member, brought his parents to meet me and thank me for helping him graduate. So PLEASE before you berate the police understand we are here because we chose a career in which we wanted to help our community.
 

Um let me take a minute to clarify we are not against police officers who want to make a positive influence on young people. Young people need all the support and mentors possible but you DO NOT need a gun to be a mentor. We also don’t think its good to buy into this culture of fear that leads us to act reactionary and think terrorist are around every corner. Again the solution is to be proactive and preventative. Comprehensive safety plans that address the root of issues are the solution. Guns won’t help a student who lacks mental health care or needs educational support. Please keep the students well being and overall best interest at heart.
 

Hate to pull the race and class card again but it is apart of this entire discussion we have going on here. History shows police that police have been known to profile low income people of color. Guess what 80% of the school in ABQ are exactly that low income predominately people of color. My biggest fear while adults are sitting around being overly concerned with terrorist attacks and things like school shooting they are over looking the odds of that even happening. You are more likely to be struck by lightening twice then to be killed in a school shooting. Do you know anyone who has been struck by lightening? What a minute back up, Do you know anyone who has be killed in a school shooting? Why should APS spend money on something that highly unlikely when are school are over crowed and unfunded as it is? Beyond that young people make mistakes, and I for one don’t want to have to worry about being targeted in my own school by a police officer who profiles me if I do so happen to make a mistake. If I do get in a fight, I don’t want to be accused of being a gang member or thrown in jail. Once you have been introduced to jail systems it’s hard ever get out of it. That is why so many people of color are going back to jail time and time again is because once their in that system all they learn from there on out is how to be criminals. Sorry sir but guns don’t need to be in school guard less of who is carrying them. I want to go to school to learn not to learn how to get in trouble.
 

Ms. Emma and Ms. Monica, what a sad thought that you believe that people of color and people who are poor are less advantaged. You are stereotyping yourself. I grew up poor, and I am a "person of color" although I prefer to be called a latina. I attended West Mesa HS where there were gangs everywhere you turned. I have never felt threatened by a Police Officer with a gun. In fact I would have felt more safe if there was a full time Certified Officer at our school.

Do not put yourself down just because you are a person of color and are poor. Instead make yourself proud and rise up. Get an education and a good job. Help to mentor others. All you have to do is believe in yourself. I did.

I never really mentors in school. It would have been nice, I probably would have done better in school and got better grades. Instead I made my own decisions to better my life. I decided to get involved with my school and church. I decided to stay out of trouble. I decided to get a job. All these were my personal decisions. I did not need mentors to hold me by the hand everyday and walk me through life.

and hey guess what?!? If you stay out of trouble the cops don't come after you! What a surprise!

The decision to better your life and stay out of trouble is your own.
 

I never once said anything to even assume that I was putting people of color down or that they couldn’t rise up against obstacles. I was merely stating the obvious fact that police race profile people. I myself am Chicana and I also consider myself someone who had rise up out of the ghetto and who has became empower by my circumstances. But none of that has to do with police being in schools. The only FACT which I already stated is that police officers racial profile people! They do plain and simple! Regardless Police officers should not be allowed to carry guns in school! There are other ways to keep our students safe without using a lethal weapon such as a gun! Guns breads violence not safety and there is no place for guns in schools PERIOD!

So miss qtpie maybe since your so educated and have such a great job you should read up on the issue before you stick your nose were it doesn''t belong.
 

I understand what Ms. Emma is saying in regards to there being little faith or trust in police officers, especially after it has been shown in numerous studies (and I include my personal experience as well) that police target low income and/or people of color. And why should young people, or people in general, trust the police, institution, or government in general. Today, on the blog, there is an article about Karl Rove and the unethical maneuvers he did to win offices for the Republican Party. If people like him are able to place themselves in position of power, the country's highest office, then a police officer with a hateful disposition against students of color, or youth in general, or who believes "kids these days are out of control", can place him/herself guarding a school. I admit there are good cops, I consider my brother one, but as he has informed me, there are some bad cops who are more willing to shoot first, and ask questions later. If this type of officer I have described is at a school, and has a gun, well then the outcome can be very serious if he decided one day to use that gun. I am not willing to take that risk with my kids. Guns don't belong at school, even if it’s carried by an officer.
 

I would like to ask you a question. APD and BCSD Officers all ready carry guns everyday into your schools. APS Cops are commissioned by the BCSD. They are certified and commissioned just like every other law enforcement officer. Why then must they lock their guns in their trunk and why are you not after APD or the BCSD to do the same?
 

To answer your question. In 2001, SWOP fought against having armed guards on campuses.

Today we still believe they should not be armed on campus. As the others have mentioned, it doesn't matter who has them APD, BCSD, APS.... they should not be on campus.

Having a few officers carry guns at school is already problematic enough. We don't need to make it worse. They should also get rid of them.

The other question to ask is why isn't SWOP or other organizations asked to be on the commission? Worse yet when we asked to be on it, why did we get rejected?

The answer points to the same issues we've been talking about. Working class people of color yet again are not a part of the decisions that most affect them.

I'm glad to hear there are many people of color that have succeeded growing up in underprivileged and marginalized communities. I like to also see myself as one of those as well.

And we've done it without guns in schools. It works, it has worked.
 

Do you really have to ask why your group was overlooked to be on any of the commissions? Just read what some of your members say and do and that should answer why.
 

anonymous, tell us your name.
 

Anonymous please clarify what you mean by look at what we are saying…..because what I am saying is proactive, preventative and comprehensive safety plans are the solution to a deep rooted problem. Throwing a gun to a cop isn’t going to solve issues which require actual thought and consideration. Students need preventative measures and investment in their future. Our schools don’t need to make student feel like they are in jail. There is already enough of a pipeline from school to prison and I really am over the only options for young people of color only being prison or military. Give our youth options, support, and opportunity not a school filled with armed officers to make them feel like they are on a one way path to incarceration.