Don’t expect to see armed security considered for B.C. schools, despite concern about school shootings south of the border.
That’s the word from B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. The minister responsible for police and provincial prisons, Farnworth says the British Columbia public has confidence in the safety of schools and communities.
“In my entire time as an MLA, which is 23 years, I don’t think I’ve ever had a person contact me about what goes on down in the U.S. all too often,” Farnworth told Black Press.
“I do think there are some fundamental differences in this province, in this country. There have been situations where there have been lockdowns, and the police are on them very well, and the school districts have protocols in place.”
He credits Canada’s strict gun laws, and a culture that has adapted to urbanization from a rural tradition where hunting rifles and shotguns were widely held.
The province and police forces have hosted gun amnesties, allowing people to turn in rifles, handguns and other weapons to police with no questions asked. Anyone with an old gun that needs safe disposal can turn it in, but they should be sure and call the police first for instructions.
Police work with B.C. schools to warn of the dangers of gangs, often with former gang members describing how they were lured into the apparent glamour of drug dealing and crime. Police and border officials report that illegal guns are smuggled into B.C. from the U.S. along with drugs.