Monday, April 16, 2007

First on the Shootings

If you wondered who would send out paper first (or email, in this modern age) about the Virginia Tech shootings, wonder no more... It's prez candidate Bill Richardson, who's also putting together one of those politically famous "task forces" to make sure it won't happen there.

Governor Bill Richardson Issues Statement on VA Tech Shootings

SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson today issued the following statement in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech:

“On behalf of all New Mexicans, Barbara and I extend our condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were cut short by this horrific tragedy,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “This is a sad day and our hearts go out to the Virginia Tech community as it grieves this loss.”

As a result of the tragedy, Governor Richardson instructed New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Beverlee McClure to immediately begin working with institutions in state to ensure adequate safety measures are in place. These measures may include having a safety plan in place and a disaster response plan. The state will also be looking into the security personnel on each campus and the level of training those personnel have in an effort to determine how to better prepare campus police and security officials to respond to such incidents.

A Safety Task Force will be formed to make recommendations to the Governor for improving the safety of our students, faculty, and staff on our campuses in the state. The Governor is committed to creating a safe learning and working environment for all New Mexicans.

#30#

3 comments:

The Deplorable Old Bulldog said...

At the risk of losing my partisan bones, Richardson is probably pretty sincere about creating a better security system.

Richardson is a decent guy who has a history of problem solving. Other than getting slimed by the Clinton (let's face it-who got close to them and didn't get slimed?).

He's the only Democrat in the race that isn't trying to run a hysterical left wing campaign.

Anonymous said...

This is the ULTIMATE in the PRICE OF POLITICS! Listen to the comments of LIBERALS in Iowa about arming campus POLICE who are CERTIFIED OFFICERS. They would hate to see this. I would HATE to see another shooting happen on one of Iowa Campus' where first responders, who would be Campus Police, would be HELPLESS to confront an ARMED person and would have to wait till armed police arrive to stop the violence.
Campus' want security, they dont want to admit or are just to ignorant to realize the world is NOT like it was when we were children. There has been 911, there are factions out there who advocate violence, MY GOD didnt they learn their lesson when 5 people died on an Iowa University Campus to a shooter!!!

I applaud the politicians who want to make it LAW that Campus Police will be given the tools to PROPERLY PROTECT our children and others in the unfolding minutes if and when another act of violence occurs. To those politicians who say this is being politicized, I say you need to wake up, how safe would our cities be if officers were NOT ARMED! This is how the world is, BOARD OF REGENTS WAKE UP AND GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND!! Quit making POLICY on an area you have no knowledge about!! and let the professionals do what is needed to try their best to prevent another tragedy from occuring again. In closing id like to ask the Board of Regents and those who are against arming Campus Police this, What if it were your loved one who was being held by a gunman and you had to watch as they killed your loved one right in front of you!?! How terrible would you feel if you knew if you were equally armed, you may have prevented your loved one from dying needlessly!

Think about it!!!!!!!!!!!

A Lawman in Iowa

Anonymous said...

by the way its me, the Lawman in Iowa again: Some in education have the best quote when it comes to our work, here it is

"There is no 'nice' way to arrest a potentially dangerous, combative suspect. The police are our bodyguards, our hired fists, batons, and guns. We pay them to do the dirty work we're too afraid, too unskilled, or too civilized to do ourselves. We expect them to keep the bad guys out of our businesses, cars, houses, and out of our face. We want them to 'take care of the problem.' We just don't want to see how it's done."
- Charles H. Webb Ph.D., CSU, Long Beach, CA.