First off, I want one!!!

I don't have a problem with this, but I'm wondering if they keep the 'happy switch' active on these?

useless in order to keep them secure enough to appease all the rifles will be too locked away to get to when needed,

Hmm, I want one please!

Common use

the best part, as reported in tbt, is that they went for $50/piece...

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/report-military-surplus-program-sent-assault-rifles-to-pinellas-schools/2198067

Processing fee for the Federal program.

Could someone explain to me how a school district Is

Dade County schools have their own PD for the schools here.

Yep, depends on the size of the school district.  Hillsborough has its own called the Hillsborough County Schools Security Services.  Has their own chief and everything.

its called school resource officer (SRO) most really know thier shit and are like mini DEA's at school busstops and stairwells.

M16s.... For the children!!!

The are sending them back.

Because having handguns instead would make too much sense.

The Pinellas County Schools Police is a separate agency that primarily provides security for elementary schools(roving patrols), and full-time security at the more at-risk or behavioral elementary/secondary schools.  Local jurisdictions typically provide full-time School Resource Officers for middle and high schools.  While their investigative abilities are limited and they typically report most issues to the local agencies, they monitor all video surveillance systems and would be the first officers to know of a major incident.  I know that there has been a big uproar over the items being given out under the 1033 Program, but I completely agree that these officers should have access to patrol rifles as they are primary responders to potential active shooter situations at public schools and will respond pro-actively to deter known threats at specific schools.  We have had a numerous occasions to notify them due to gunmen on the loose near schools and they respond to secure the schools.  And for $50 a piece, how do you fault the agency for wanting to save $800 or so over retail?  Bottom line is that if there is an active shooter in a Pinellas County public school and they are under-equipped, we know they will have to answer for that and people will call for them to be dissolved if they are just glorified security guards that can't protect their children. Also bear in mind that the vast majority of these officers are retired from larger LE agencies and have real-world experience.

 Well said.

Most Leo's have 0 experience with selective fire weapons and a shotgun would probably

be better suited for the mission. But having said that I did not oppose them having them

but I should also be able to buy a new one at retail as well. If I can't have one at a new

retail price they shouldn't be able to have them either.



 

I still can not believe the school district needs it's own police force, that must be one sweet gig no nights or weekends. Where does one sign up for that job?

Don't forget summers off, spring break, a few weeks off for Christmas. The cop at my school has a sweet gig, I trust he could handle things if shit hit the fan, he's retired local pd and ex-mil. I still wish I was able to carry at work, maybe some day.

Just like in the mil, you never use the third setting on rifles 99% of the time.  And it can easily be disabled as well.

A couple things...I am sure that if the rifles were kept, they would have removed the auto sear like 90% of the 1033 M16's that are given to local LE agencies (maybe 10% going to SWAT Teams and kept select fire).  I think we also know that there is no chance at all that the Feds will ever release these weapons into civilian hands or de-mill them and the military is done with the M16A1's.  The last military small arms to be released to the public were the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine and that's it (unless they give their 1911's to the CMP).  These rifles were just going to sit in a warehouse or get scrapped, so why not let a government entity use them to save taxpayer money?

In regards to shotguns in the schools, let's not forget how long hallways and auditoriums and cafeterias can be.  The potential of having to take a long distance shot inside with potential bystanders around is high.

In regards to the job being a cakewalk, there are several positions that do transports and monitor cameras and such, so yeah, that's not a bad gig.  But as mentioned, there are a plethora of "alternative" schools for the students that get kicked out of the mainstream schools, in addition to the programs for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed (EBD) students.  Let me tell you, those schools are more like prisons and psych wards and you couldn't pay me enough to deal with those issues.  There are sometimes 3+ officers stationed at each school to keep order.  My agency doesn't have the resources to handle that, so frankly I think it's a necessity that those officers and that agency exist.

Also, a couple years ago, one of their officers was stabbed 3 times in a middle school restroom tussling with a student that had brought 11 molotov cocktails to take out some bullies...food for thought.