In light of the school shooting in Texas, one homeland security expert says preventing these types of attacks starts at home.
It’s simple, says Don Rondeau, have conversations with your children.
“We have conversations with our kids about drugs, about bullying, this has to be a part of that menu of options that parents and adults who engage kids have. We have to talk about unauthorized access to weapons,” Rondeau, a homeland security expert, said.
As school shootings have hit all parts of this country, Rondeau says it’s time to take action, and not wait on another gun control debate.
“The victim of the next school shooting is in one of our schools. The attacker of one the school shootings is likely in one of our American school shootings,” he said.
RELATED: Governor Hogan announces funds for school safety
In February, Governor Larry Hogan announced legislation designed to enhance safety in schools in the state, including $125 million for capital improvements including better locks, security cameras, and even panic buttons.
Add on $50 million in operating funds to help bring on more school resource officers and even counselors, and Rondeau says the state is headed in the right direction.
But it goes beyond the money.
“What we’re talking about is a comprehensive approach to stopping the school shootings from happening. It involves state, local, and federal law enforcement in making sure that information is being shared,” Rondeau said.
What concerns Rondeau is the potential disconnect when law enforcement is alerted to a potential threat.
He says if officers and agents don’t act, there must be some form of accountability, so that another shooting doesn’t happen.
“That’s not a gun control issue by itself. That’s not a parenting issue by itself, but certainly we’re talking about someone that has done what the government asked. They’ve saw something, they have said something, but somebody hasn’t done something,” Rondeau said.
