Compton, CA School Police Authorized to Carry AR-15′s When School Starts Back This Fall

School Police in California’s crime plagued city of Compton will have a new tool at their disposal in the upcoming school year – AR-15′s rifles.

The rifles will be stored in the trunks of patrol cars while the officers are on duty and will only be issued to certain, pre-approved officers.

Many school districts have elected to extend the range and firepower of their resource officers following school shootings in recent years. As someone famously said, “The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.”

Of course, since this is California, not everyone is on board with this idea. From 89.3 KPCC,

But some community members are upset about the policy, questioning the utility of having such high-powered firearms in the hands of school police officers.

“The school police has been very notorious in the community and in reality has never had to shoot anyone before,” said Francisco Orozco, a recent Dominguez High School graduate and founder of the Compton Democratic Club. “So this escalation of weapons we feel is very unnecessary.”

Orozco said the police could better focus on day-to-day security concerns on campus, rather than arming themselves for a worst-case scenario. He also pointed to a lawsuit filed last year by parents in the district, alleging racial profiling by Compton school police officers — as well as recent allegations by students of excessive force — as evidence of a rift between the department and the community.

Of course, the California media and some opponents have called the rifles in question “assault rifles,” however officials did verify officers will be carrying the semi-auto variety.

Source: GunsSaveLives.net