Conservatives who put guns in schools now want more guns in schools

This is another story of how the militarization of American society and the rise of the right-wing police state have accomplished nothing except to worsen gun violence - and how those who cheered the rise of the police state use the increased violence as an excuse for even more police state measures.

It is believed that in the 1970s, no American public school (outside of juvenile detention) had gun-toting guards roaming the hallways. And gun violence in schools back then was practically nil. Today, 68% of American high schools have armed guards. Is there less violence as a result? Of course not. It's also believed that no democracy in the world except the United States has armed guards in schools. Yet what country has more school shootings than every other nation put together?

America puts guns in schools - then acts surprised when somebody brings in a gun and shoots up the place.

Now - following the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut - the right-wing brain trust is demanding even more armed guards in schools. Far-right former Education Secretary and drug czar William Bennett says he endorses this increased militarization.

It brings a whole new meaning to the school-to-prison pipeline. Indeed, it makes it redundant, as our schools have essentially become prisons. It's a fact that American schools are violence central. News reports keep trying to assure us that school is one of the safest places to be. But it isn't. I've known this firsthand since 1984.

The right-wing talking heads who come up with ideas like this are as out of step as the jumbled, blustery, corporate-minded leadership of the NRA is. (Incidentally, I thought I'd warn you that "Occupy the NRA" is not a bona fide Occupy chapter. They've been deleting legitimate Occupy-related posts from several different people on their Facebook page. The project is really just a ham-handed attempt to "tone down" Occupy - not unlike how the DLC mutilated the Democrats.)

The militaristic ravings generated by the wardens of our prison-like school system have gone unchallenged for far too long.

(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/education/after-newtown-shootings-schools-consider-armed-security-officers.html)