‘We Must Send a Consistent Message’

Vice president of the Los Angeles Board of Education; introduced the motion to ban all guns, including those used by Junior ROTC, from schools within LAUSD

Ihold Junior ROTC in high regard. They teach values to our kids that are very meaningful. But the board adopted a zero-tolerance policy for guns on campus.

If a youngster brings a mock gun on campus, he will be expelled. But we are allowing our ROTC cadets to walk around with guns. If we’re glorifying guns on one hand by having the ROTC members march around on campus and represent the schools at school- or district-sponsored events, and we’re telling other kids if you bring a gun to school, you’re going to be expelled, we’re not consistent. We need to be consistent.

This motion shouldn’t have any impact on the program. Cadets can carry batons or just march. Maybe they should do the rifle team practice off campus. I’m not worried about danger. I’m worried about the message we’re sending to kids that guns are glamorous. I don’t think the school district should be sending the message that guns are cool. That’s the opposite message that we want to send.

By allowing the Junior ROTC cadets to have guns, we’re saying it’s OK for these kids to have guns. It just doesn’t make sense. I think kids can be taught responsibility with guns, without having the guns.

One of the main rules of being a good parent is to be consistent, and the school district must also be consistent.