School security

I have been wondering what solution I can come up with to prevent these murders at our schools.

I am an educator of 20 years, currently employed at an elementary school in New Mexico. I am also a member of the school's All-Hazard Team or Crisis Management Team.

We are trained in planning and implementing safety programs to deal with fires, hazardous waste, intruders on campus, etc. We are only trained in basically hiding out and waiting for help.

This approach just isn't feasible anymore.

As we all know, it is not feasible financially or manpower-wise to have a police officer or armed security guard at every school in America.

My idea is based on the concept of the air marshals. Why couldn't schools have teachers extensively trained in the use of firearms and the handling of these types of violent situations?

These teachers would have the right to conceal- carry on campus.

There should be a screening process. The prospective candidates would have to pass a psychological and possibly a physical exam.

It is possible many of the perpetrators of these crimes would think twice about attempting these sick and depraved acts.

If we don't do something, soon teachers and students are going to start bringing weapons to school for self- preservation.

Anthony Mitchell

Las Cruces

Biden control


The horrific and evil events at Sandy Hook demand our attention.

If this administration is serious and committed to assault- weapon reform, why did this president appoint his administration buffoon, Biden, to undertake this important and necessary effort?

Would it not seem more reasonable to have someone with a brain spearheading this?

Shirley Stowe

West El Paso

Socialism chosen

Socialism is the precursor for communism. The 2012 election was a plebiscite and a referendum on socialism.

The United States of America is taking its final steps toward socialism, an economic system based on state ownership of industry, capital and an authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to demo cracy or liberalism).

You cannot change the socio-political, socio-economic, and the entitlement mentality of the give-me generation.

"Liberty and freedom is only one generation away from extinction." This is that generation that gave up their freedoms for a welfare check.

The United States of America was a representative government of the people, by the people and for the people, but today, special-interest lobbyists, big labor unions and the total disregard for the founding principles of this nation are ringing its death knell.

The government no longer represents the will of the governed, but instead, their own special interests and political and philosophical ideologies.

We the people who created this great nation, and fought to keep it free from the tyranny of an oppressive government, have thrown it all away for a soft tyranny and empty promises for a utopian society.

Radames Rodriguez

East El Paso


Ronald Reagan in 1987 challenged Mr. Gorbachev to, "Tear down this wall!" After the fall of the Berlin Wall, three long sections of the wall remain, and 15 years after the fall, a private museum rebuilt a 656-foot section close to Checkpoint Charlie.

During an American Embassy, East Berlin (Russian Sector) assignment in 1981-84, my family and I witnessed from our 14th-floor apartment, located in East Berlin, three New Year's where firecrackers were thrown across the Berlin Wall by Germans in the divided city from 6 p.m. New Year Eve until 6 a.m. New Year's Day morning.

Both cities became one beautiful spectacle.

This was the only time of the year East Berliners and West Berliners were allowed to have any type of connection.

It was wonderful to see the Germans so festive and happy for one night beginning the New Year.

With all the killings in the Borderland, it would also be wonderful if the people of El Paso and Juárez began a tradition of throwing firecrackers between our sister cities across the "fence;" we would see happy cities beginning the New Year.

We have built an ugly fence and want to fell a historical smokestack, which is an engineering marvel. The Asarco smokestack would outlast any ugly wall.

Tony Perez

Horizon City