Armed Security Guard's at School...An Opinion Piece

As I'm reading the Southwest Valley section of the Arizona Republic today, I noticed the article about armed security guard, Ray Granillo, accidentally shooting himself in the finger while on duty at a school in Tolleson. Apparently, the gun discharged while in it's holster, untouched, a "freak accident".

Of course, my first thoughts were, "Wow. I'm so glad no one was hurt!" My second thought was, "It's a shame we need to have armed security guards with loaded weapons at our high schools." However, as I continued to read the article, I was shocked to discover that this incident did not occur at a high school, or even middle school, this was at Arizona Desert Elementary School!

Elementary school! Kindergarten through sixth grade, reading, writing and arithmetic. In a facility where songs about the alphabet and holding hands while crossing the street can still be heard, there is armed security ready to fire.

Now, I don't really want to get into a debate about whether or not guns should be allowed on school grounds, by security guards or teachers. I understand the threat and fear of school violence, of school shootings like Columbine and Virginia Tech. And I understand the threat of an outsider coming in, like the suspect running from police and hiding out on school grounds, I get that. But this is an elementary school. I'm not saying that means they are exempt from tragedy, but should they be exempt from the innocence of what being in elementary school is all about?

In elementary school, you should expect to see dodge ball, and hop-scotch and what-have-you, and as far as law enforcement, I can remember all to well, the oldest, meanest-looking teacher with a whistle around their neck and a stack of tickets that would send you straight to the Principal's office. When did that stop being enough? When did we go straight from a whistle and the threat of parents being called, to law enforcement officials and loaded guns?

I welcome any one's opinion. I am shocked and confused and honestly, a little sad at this thought.