DANGEROUS POTENTIAL

While I detest the very thought of children being exposed to a raid by
police carrying drawn weapons, I gladly accept that over having a
child shot by a hoodlum.

When the police entered Stratford High, they were entering an area
with suspected criminal activity, and that means the potential for
criminals to be there.

I am not so naive that I think all teenagers are the innocent angels
their parents hope they are. It is a sad truth today that there are
children walking around with guns and knives.

Unfortunately, the only way for police to ensure the safety of all
those in the hallway, including the police, was to take positive
control of everyone at the scene, and that meant they had to put
everyone on the ground until they were sure no weapons were present.

To those parents who say "Do you think my child looks like a
criminal?" I can only ask what they think a criminal looks like.

To those who don't think such a potential for tragedy exists in our
schools, the article about the attack on the principal of E.E. Waddell
High School in southwest Charlotte is very instructive.

Bill Ferris

Summerville