Honestly, I suspect that's sort of half the case.

When I was there, the level of security was directly related to the level of threat. It wasn't uncommon that West Point be a target of threats, and occasionally when the threats were deemed more credible, the MPs would increase security.

My guess is that the private security company they hired doesn't have a security clearance that gives them access to the insight necessary to gauge the threat level, so they treat all days as if the threat level is high in an abundance of caution.

While true, I think this further strengthens the point that a show of force/presence of weapons (even with MPs) does not necessarily prevent these terrible incidents from happening.

Peden is a gun free zone, so was Columbine, Va Tech, Parkland, etc, law enforcement is not considered part of the gun free zone definition, only applies to Joe Citizen. Which, ironically we are saying the same thing, you just chose to argue. And yes, Fort Hood was a gun free zone, and every venue you listed is considered “gun free”. So what is your point?

Interesting thread indeed, and I always enjoy when folks declare their opinion as fact/irrefutable, when by definition, an opinion isn't a fact, and conversely, facts are not opinions, but I digress.

Related to the subject of the thread, my opinion is as follows, as I don't have kids like the Love, and have a clearly different perspective and different concerns over influences:

I HATE what has become of TSA at airports, and the drudgery of travel via airplanes today, however I do understand that it is with the best interests of all 150+ passengers flying in the aluminum tube with me (plus those on the ground) that I suffer considerable inconvenience versus what I used to have to go through pre-9-11.

The same holds true for public safety at major gatherings with the ever expanding threat from mass shootings and other nefarious deeds. Increased security at these events will be with us forever. Then related to Saturday, I consider if some disgruntled individual wanted to rush the field at halftime with some form of mass destruction, when all the high school bands were on the field, along with the fans standing in the east stands watching that display. Easily 1,000 people on the field in extremely close proximity plus likely five to six thousand people standing as easy targets for a rogue combatant against whom to take out their beefs. If I were in attendance on Saturday, my inconvenience from the gate staff and armed police force would have been far less intrusive TO ME than what I go through at an airport for a threat that is potentially, proportionally far less than what is possible at a large sporting event. But that's just me.

Good point, thank you.

Meanwhile 3 rapes on Athens campus in over 1 week. Maybe we should return to community policing initiates instead of writing traffic tickets and buying armored vehicles.

Sounds like this is news that needs released to every high school in Ohio. So based on that, if I had a daughter she would likely not be attending Ohio and wherever she would carry mace and a 9 mm. Jefferson, "keep your guns close and maintain your proficiency with them." Surprising to some, given instruction, young ladies gain proficiency more quickly than young men.

BRING BACK THE NOISE ORDINANCE!

Can you give me an example of a killing spree that started by taking on a heavily armed policeman?

The Columbine shooters had a shootout with an on campus police officer. The Navy Yard shooting began with the armed guard being shot. At the Pulse Nightclub, there was an off-duty police officer working as an armed guard who was shot and killed.

It's not always the deterrent one would think.

Actually I read the point as too many people have access to too many guns and that assault weapons have absolutely no place in civilized society.

No, you made that point.

I think there are far wiser approaches to attempting to solve the problem of mass shootings than accepting their inevitability and placing heavily armed security personnel everywhere Americans gather.