in our schools until we could realize what other security measures we could take in order to keep our children safe. the governor of your state disagrees with you. chris christie said a week ago, quote, you don t want to make this an armed camp for kids. how would you respond to that? i disagree with the governor. i think that our police officers are well trained. they re the ones we call when there is an emergency. we hope they get there quickly. until such time as we can change our security protocol and address the issues that happened in newtown, connecticut, this is the most immediate step and actions we can take, that i can take that our board of education could take. i haven t heard a suggestion out of the governor s office or any other of the elected officials who are saying they re uncomfortable. these aren t armed guards. these are professionals. police officers. the ones we call when there is an emergency. and if they re there to calm and possibly deter a future event. so
the tragedy there. i understand that and it s unfortunate. however, when there is an emergency event you want your professionals on the spot. each of our police officers are trained as emergency response technicians and they are the ones you want on the scene when there is an emergency. this is you can t sit back and take no action. after what happened in newtown. if you are an elected official in this country and your position right now is to hope that event doesn t happen in your town i believe that s a mistake and that is not what we re prepared to do in marlboro township. vice president joe biden has been tasked with heading up the administration s efforts on any kind of gun control reform. what would you tell him needs to happen? what would you say to him? i think we need to ban assault weapons. i think we have to lower the magazine clips, multi capacity magazine clips. i believe there are tighter restrictions and licensing requirements, get rid of the gun gear loop holes.
existing security protocol was not safe. it was not adequate. so we need to go to the next step. and we re going to put our police officers in the school until such time as we get a report out of newtown we take a look at how we can improve security, all of the guys are keeping our students safe. what effect do you think that might have on the children and on the school environment having armed guards present at facing these threats in a very tangible way and having to see an armed guard in their school? we ve had school resource officers in marlboro township for years. the program has gotten cut back with the economy and the fiscal concerns. but our police officers are integrated into our community. i believe that marlboro school children see police officers and look at them as somebody to protect, somebody safe. somebody to go to. and i don t think it s going to cause any fear. it s going to be a comforting, it s going to be safety. it s going to make them feel better and could a
at every school. it s a policy the mayor of new jersey put in place and his defended his decision earlier today with thomas roberts. i think we have to close the loopholes on gun control. ta being said, our students need to be safe where they learned. what newtown showed us is existing security is not safe. the only way to protect our students right now is to have a police officer present in the school. but not everyone is on board with the nra s plan to make schools safer. joining me now is randy winegarten, the head of the american federation of teachers. thank you so much for joining us. it s my pleasure. we did d some research and the national school safety center says about 25% of schools with armed guards, when i go to a college football game, i often see numerous officers have weapons. in case of issues. why should that same protection that s at a college football game not be afforded to every single child that goes to public
jurisdiction. i don t make state law, i don t make federal law. i don t support the nra, i want to get rid of assault rifles. i think we have to close the loopholes on gun control. that being said, our students need to be safe where they learn. what newtown showed us was existing security is not safe the people that rely on safety in our commune and they do an excellent job. the police department took a look at our protocol, and said that the only way to protect our students right now is to have a police officer present in the school. these are the same people we call if there is an active shooter event in 911. so instead of waiting the five minutes to get them there, they are present, they are law enforcement, they are professionals, they know how to handle themselves. the nra is using in as an excuse to circumvent the argument on gun control, and that s wrong. that s not what our intent is. our intent is only to protect