Madison County schools in North Carolina plan to store AR-15 rifles inside emergency safes. This is in response to the Uvalde school shooting that resulted in two deaths and left behind 19 victims.
Madison County has six schools. Each school will be equipped with emergency safes to increase security.
According to Sheriff Buddy Harwood, the Asheville Citizen-Times was:
“We were able to put an AR-15 rifle and safes in all of our schools in the county … We’ve also got breaching tools to go into those safes. We’ve got extra magazines with ammo in those safes.”
Harwood added that in the event of a school shooting, he wants to “make sure my deputies are prepared.” He also spoke about the Uvalde incident, saying:
“Those officers were in that building for so long, and that suspect was able to infiltrate that building and injure and kill so many kids … I do not want to have to run back out to the car to grab an AR, because that’s time lost. Hopefully we’ll never need it, but I want my guys to be as prepared as prepared can be.”
Madison Middle, Hot Springs Elementary and Bush Creek Elementary will have safes.
Will Hoffman, the County School’s Superintendent, says they take school security seriously and are in constant contact with the police department and Sheriff Harwood.
“Our partnership with law enforcement is a critical part of our daily preparations. Every situation can be a challenge, so we must always be ready. Our students have to feel safe in order to be safe.”
“No organization can do this alone. That’s why strong community partnerships are integral to our safe school efforts, they are more important now than ever.”
Harwood addressed those with concerns regarding AR-15s in schools, but noted that they would be safer.
“I hate that we’ve come to a place in our nation where I’ve got to put a safe in our schools, and lock that safe up for my deputies to be able to acquire an AR-15. But, we can shut it off and say it won’t happen in Madison County, but we never know.”
Harwood even had a message of encouragement for parents
“I want the parents of Madison County to know we’re going to take every measure necessary to ensure our kids are safe in this school system. If my parents, as a whole, want me to stand at that door with that AR strapped around that officer’s neck, then I’m going to do whatever my parents want as a whole to keep our kids safe.”
It could prove to be an effective strategy for all counties of the United States if it works in Madison County.
About Post Author
