Swami:
I read in The News-Sun about how CLC wants to give GUNS to their security guards. Why am I picturing a certain jittery lawman from Mayberry with a single bullet in his shirt pocket?
With Sincere Concern,
Jesse Donald Knotts
Dear J.D.:
Ah, how we all love a good laugh at the expense of small police agencies when they stumble into big trouble, or seek powers seemingly beyond their means. Everyone races to crack wise about Bernard P. "Barney" Fife, the loyal and dedicated but frail and ill-qualified deputy to the wise and patient Sheriff Andy Taylor.
In fact, one of Swami's all-time favorite Lake County news quotes came in 1992, when the city of Highwood briefly considered allowing aldermen and building commissioners to carry concealed firearms, and an official at the Illinois Municipal League had this to say: "What the hell, you don't want to put a gun in just anybody's pocket. We
don't need a bunch of Barney Fifes out there."
But times have changed since the innocent days of 1992, when all we had on the public spree-killing scoreboard was the Texas Tower Sniper, the San Ysidro McMassacre, the Luby's Cafeteria Massacre and about a dozen other mass murders that happened every other year or so. Here in the 21st century, spree killings have not only become more frequent, but they've become like tornadoes, something we dread and prepare for, but we also figure they're going to happen sooner or later.
So the Swami advises you to be not surprised if the College of Lake County does end up allowing its trained security officers to carry more than their current arsenal of batons and pepper spray. Times have changed -- in fact, "The Andy Griffith Show" signed off for the last time 40 years ago this month.
The Police Officers at C.L.C. have ALWAYS been Certified [since the 70's] as police by the State of Illinois they went to P.T.I.they are NOT "Security guards."
They did have Guns but the ad min. and student gov. took them away and gave them to Grayslake Police Dept.in [app.]1980's
Those officers risk there lives every day doing the same patrols
as "City" police do, Gangs ,fights, domestic disputes,robbery's,etc.
The college community is for the most part very "liberal minded" they want it both ways safety but no weapons until they are confronted by an armed criminal with NO f.O.I.D. card and a stolen gun. Leave the Law Enforcement to professionals like the College Police the Ad min. staff should support them because they are protecting US. If you don't feel safe with armed C.L.C.officers go to N.I.U..
As for the Aldermen being armed ,the City of North Chicago at one time [around 1960's]had Armed /radio equipped and deputized Aldermen.