Parents in red-leaning suburbs outside NYC green-lighting armed security at public schools

A growing number of school districts outside New York City are adopting armed security amid the nationwide threat of school shootings and other violence.

Although a coalition of parents, students and district employees pushed for the measure, which the board of education approved in February, many local residents told Fox News Digital they didn't know about the move this week. However, many supported the idea. Violent offenders prey on soft targets. School shootings are typically thoroughly planned out well in advance. Oftentimes, the shooter will scout out a location where they will face the least resistance and cause the most damage in executing their evil plan. As far as how that affects the taxpayers, I believe that it's something everyone should want: protecting our local kids in our schools.

The district's plan, announced by superintendent Paul Defendini in a letter obtained by the local Patch, will place armed guards outside the schools. The guards would only have permission to enter a building in order to respond to an active shooter — otherwise, they would have to remain outside. Smithtown, another large district in neighboring Suffolk County, implemented similar measures in 2023.