Editor,
In regards to the Carmel Clay Schools referendum on school safety on the November ballet, no one can argue that investing in additional school resource officers, enhancing mental health services and providing additional training to staff will not improve safety in our schools. However, no one should take these investments and reach a conclusion that our schools would therefore become safe.
Numerous school districts across the country are taking similar measures but, unfortunately, none of them address the elephant in the room. That is the easy and ample availability of military-grade weapons of mass assault and the elected officials who are impeding any attempt to reasonably control their distribution and utilization. If Carmel even comes close to matching national polls, then the far greater majority of us would like to see, at the very least, a comprehensive background check on any gun sale (including private) and a ban on assault weapons.
This is a democracy where every voice should be heard and every vote counted. A democracy where a very small but well-financed minority should be overwhelmed by the agenda of the majority.
Let’s support the referendum on school safety, but let’s also take the bolder step with our votes and only support those candidates who intend on bringing forth legislation for reasonable gun restrictions. We owe our children, our teachers and ourselves as much.
Dan Kane, Carmel
