Merilee Dannemann: Protecting our schools

The Sunday talk shows last week focused on two topics: the fiscal cliff and the issues arising from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, including putting security people in the public schools and increasing services for the mentally ill.

You’d think the two subjects existed on two different planets. Nobody mentioned that one topic was about reducing the cost of government and the other was about potentially expensive new programs. 

Wayne La Pierre, of the National Rifle Association, was quoted as saying, “With all the money in the federal budget can’t we afford to put a police officer in every single school?”  

Where’s he been?

How much would armed security officers in every elementary school cost? If we entrust the lives of children to these officers, we have to pay them adequately.

What salary should they get — more than teachers, perhaps? Let’s have a nice calm chat about that, shall we?

New mental health services are being called for – or replacements for mental health services that used to exist (however imperfect the service or unscientific the knowledge base) that were closed partly for budget reasons.

If you subscribe to the newspaper, you receive FREE access to all the exclusive content of the web site! Simply register to receive uninterrupted access to our award-winning and in-depth local online content!

Renew Current or Past Subscription / Register for Online Subscription

If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Los Alamos Monitor, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.

Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.

Newspaper Acct. ID:
Street Address:	(exactly as it appears on the label)

If you are a subscriber and you do not know your account ID or don't have a copy of your newspaper available that shows the information on the address label you can click continue below to search for your account.

New Subscription/30 Day Free Trial Account

If you are new to the award winning Los Alamos Monitor and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.

ZIP Code:

Create a limited access account.
Register to participate in community forums, post on the community calendar, blog etc. This registration does not give you full access to read our award winning content, etc.

The Los Alamos Monitor | lacirculation@lamonitor.com | 505-662-4185
256 DP Road, Los Alamos, NM 87544
Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday