Crime & Safety

Officials Sound Off on Security After Newtown

Oyster Bay schools, officials, and politicians brainstorm how to tackle security.

With last week's tragic elementary school shooting in Connecticut still fresh in everyone's minds, Oyster Bay residents and lawmakers are brainstorming updates on school security.

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for an immediate installation of armed officers in schools Friday, saying, "I call on Congress today to act immediately, to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every school — and to do it now, to make sure that blanket of safety is in place when our children return to school in January."

Nassau County politicians on both sides of the aisle are agreeing that the problem stems from lack of common sense gun laws and an abundance of loopholes.

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Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, described LaPierre's statements as “tragically out of touch."

"We do not need an arms race in our schools," Israel said. "We need common-sense initiatives like limits on high-capacity assault magazines and closing the gun show loophole. It's time for common ground, not more guns on school playgrounds.”

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In Oyster Bay, Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting focused greatly on remembrance of those who died and prevention of a repeat incident.

Though board members suggested a variety of improvements and changes, all agreed that in light of the Newtown tragedy that a second look at current practices would prove valuable.

One security measure schools have tightened is open doors. Superintendent Phyllis Harrington said school principals met with their respective staff members and emphasized following their security policies of entering the building.

At Oyster Bay High School, board members and principals considered limiting access to just the center doors and closing side doors during the day. OBHS Principal Dennis O'Hara said he would draft a letter to parents about any change in policies.

As for the current security system, the last recommendations that were made were secure access to buildings and video cameras to have recorded data, said Harrington. Beyond that, no new recommendations were made and the expert who was consulted was confident in the school's security policies, she said.

"I wouldn't be against talking to an expert," said trustee Maryann Santos, saying there is always room for improvement. "If we could prevent other people from coming into our schools…to hurt our children, it would just be a better approach."

Board members also said an issue of mental health is also an important aspect of the tragedy, a point that has also come out in the political sphere.

On the floor of the Nassau County Legislature this week Jacobs criticized Nassau County's proposed 2013 budget for slashing mental health program funding by nearly 50 percent from 2012 levels.

"We, unfortunately, do not have powers to enforce stricter gun laws on the county level, but we certainly have the power to provide mental health programs in the county and, thereby, serve as a model for the state and federal governments," Jacobs said.

"It is ludicrous," Nassau PBA President James Carver said of putting armed guards in schools. "Kids -- especially grammar school kids -- shouldn't have to walk into a school with police set up there [with] the fear that there's something bound to happen. The bottom line here is that the guns are getting into the hands of the people that they shouldn't be getting into."

"To me, there's no legitimate purpose to have these semi-automatic rifles. ... We have to take a seriously look in this country about gun control. ... Enough of the talk, it's time for action."

Joe Dowd and Matthew Hogan contributed to this report.


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