gun- and health-related topics at the “Guns in Our Community” forum. (Nicole Barrett/DD)
After a string of gun-related incidents in the past few years, a forum discussed controversial topics like off-duty school officers, mental health and background checks, as well as sparked heated debate about solutions to gun-related violence within the Phoenix community.
Sponsored by the Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association, the “Guns in Our Community” forum was held Wednesday at Central United Methodist Church and featured a panel of five speakers, including former mayor Phil Gordon and former county attorney Rick Romley.
On- and off-duty officers at schools were a big discussion topic at the forum, after Mayor Greg Stanton announced a new school-safety program last Thursday that would double the number of police officers and cut more than half the costs of on-duty established officers.
Panelist Joe Clure, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, supports off-duty officers in schools so children are not left unattended if an event happens in these cases.
“The cost factor is simply more advantageous to the taxpayer,” Clure said. “You only pay officers for the time you need.”
Husband and wife Jamie and Maren Showkeir both said having guns in schools is a “ridiculous solution.”
“There are a lots of common sense methods like licensing to reduce this brouhaha.” Maren Showkeir said. “But on- or off-duty, it’s a ridiculous notion to think we could put an armed officer on campus.”
Jamie Showskeir, who worked in a school system that had police officers in the building as community liaisons, said they were helpful in this setting but would not for be a good idea as a method of students’ protection.
“Slapping on this Band-Aid won’t solve national issues,” he said.
The degree of training it takes to work as an armed officer in schools was a main concern for many audience members and panelists. Panelist Benny White, retired Lt. Col. and National Rifle Association member, said there is a deterrent effect of people having weapons in schools, yet it should not be mandatory under any circumstances.
Romley agreed with White that school officers must take great responsibility and there are definite risks involved.
“You can teach anybody to shoot, but it’s the judgment when to pull the trigger that matters,” he said.
Phoenix resident Mike Gheleta suggested an on-call officer be available for school districts or larger populations.
“The solution is not having an officer at every school,” Gheleta said. “It’s a deeper issue with the prevalence of guns and the people who use them.”
Gordon said if the city is going to budget to put officers anywhere, they should start at the elementary school level so mental illnesses can be identified earlier.
Panelist Jim Dunn, executive director for the Arizona National Alliance on the Mentally Ill, addressed the mental health aspect to gun-related violence and said “having a mental illness is not a crime.”
“There is a huge difference between someone with a mental illness who is able to take care of themselves and someone who is dangerous to themselves and others,” Dunn said.
His comments come the same day as former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to the location where she was shot to urge lawmakers to expand background checks for gun purchases.
Dunn said more than 90 percent of people with mental illnesses are likely to be victims of violence rather than instigators. However, anyone voluntarily hospitalized with a mental illness automatically goes on the prohibited list for purchasing guns.
“Fortunately, Legislature has been more rational this season,” said Dunn, referring to several bills under review that would help better identify mentally ill individuals who are considered “dangerous.”
HB 2555 would require teachers and health professionals to inform the police about possibly dangerous individuals. HB 2618 would require additional training for police to differentiate people with serious mental illness. Both bills are sponsored by Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills.
In addition, the bipartisan HB 2570 won support of the House of Representatives and would take $250,000 to expand the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Mental Health First-Aid program.
Clure, who said he does not believe in gun control, said guns do not scare him in the hands of good citizens and the negative effects are the same as getting a DUI from driving a car.
In his opinion, closing loopholes and enforcing background checks is the solution to gun violence. He said that enhancing the punishments for gun crimes is a good general solution, but it poses a challenge in terms of costs to incarcerate people.
“The big issue is mental health,” Clure said. “There is sensationalism with the media about gun violence, but you seldom hear of a situation when a citizen uses a firearm in defense.”
Answers for Phoenix may be far away, but panelists seemed to agree that mental health is a key issue that needs attention.
“The politics are different today and it’s harder to get the different parties to work together,” Romley said. “But the collaborative efforts and partnerships with the community is the solution.”
Dunn said many people diagnosed with mental illnesses get better and move on to lead full and satisfying lives.
“We have a system that values paper over people,” Dunn said. “It’s a matter of creating relationships.”
Contact the reporter at nbarret1@asu.edu
