Atmosphere at DIA
Re: “New flight plans,” Sept. 29 business news story.
Your recent article on the proposed master plan for Denver International Airport comes at a time when the airport authority is grappling with balancing security concerns with increased passenger traffic. DIA is not a passenger-friendly airport, and it has lost its once-unique ambiance of openness, friendliness and soaring visions. It has rather become emblematic of our society: closed, fearful and narrow. Other airports have been able to maintain security without subjecting passengers to constant reminders of threat warnings. DIA has lost its image as a first-class airport. The airport authority is encouraged to use the upcoming master plan to look at ways to expand facilities, operate efficiently, maintain security, and at the same time return DIA to a friendlier place for adults and children. The airport authority needs to return the airport’s environment to be in harmony with its architectural design. Let’s put the psychological well-being of passengers back into the airport’s operations.
Gregory Sullivan, Littleton
Shootings and security in American schools
With the recent school invasion last week in Bailey, I wonder if it would be more effective to empty the schools with a “ring the alarm” policy where our children would be taught to pull the fire alarm when they see someone who doesn’t belong in the building rather than trying to find a teacher or administrator.
Pulling the alarm would effectively empty the school immediately, and bring the fire department and police departments without the potential of losing precious moments while a student tries to find an adult and explain the situation.
Granted, the outsider would probably slip away in the confusion, but they wouldn’t be able to prey on our children who today we teach to barricade themselves in classrooms, often after a gunshot has already sounded.
David Rhinehart, Reisterstown, Md.
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The murder of innocent victims over the last week in Colorado, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania is again a stark reminder of gun violence in our schools. It is unbelievable that the response from far- right gun advocates is to require arming teachers to protect students and themselves from nuts who have the legal right to purchase semi-automatic pistols in the first place. Where is the logic in arming the Amish?
It would seem more logical to me to have this contingency of the National Rifle Association form militias for volunteer service to help our undermanned forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. NRA head Wayne LaPierre could be their commander. This then would provide them the experience with the type of gun rights they are advocating here.
Hal Lenhart, Lakewood
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Why on earth are we not teaching martial arts in our kids’ gym classes? There’s been yet another school shooting, at an Amish school in Pennsylvania. This makes three deadly school shootings in the U.S. within a week. Enough! Our kids really don’t deserve to grow up this way.
When I was in high school, 1978-81, in gym class we had a great thing called “life sports,” which included things like cross-country skiing, bowling and even square dancing. The idea was that we would learn skills that we would keep and practice our entire lives. Why don’t we apply the “life sports” concept to include the martial arts – basic self defense for all, taught for a minimum of, say, two months?
Rick Sprenger, Denver
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I would like to express my appreciation to the men and women of the Park and Jefferson county sheriff’s offices who responded to the school shooting at Platte Canyon High School. I began my career with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office the summer following the Columbine shooting and have the highest respect for the department and its people. As a patrol deputy for the last six years with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, I was proud of the way the Park County Sheriff’s Office was able to effectively handle a major incident. Sheriff Fred Wegener had to make one of the toughest decisions known to man, and he did so with the decisiveness and accountability that have earned him the respect of a nation. We all mourn the loss of a young life and pray it will never happen again. And we show our thanks for those who put themselves in harm’s way to save a school from a madman.
Josh Sheldon, Fort Collins
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After recent school shootings, I must ask why we have a lack of security in schools across the country. The events that took place in 1999 at Columbine High School made school officials review their security policies and overall safety. The recent events at Platte Canyon High School make you wonder how a man who does not work at or attend the school gets inside the building and takes six students hostage.
Schools have all sorts of security plans in effect to help prevent violence, but minor things like locking doors are sneaking under the radar. Schools must invest financially with adding armed and knowledgeable certified security officers on school campuses. I am not suggesting schools simply have one security officer; schools need to have multiple security strategies throughout school grounds.
If schools have the proper security and are keeping an eye on people who are in their buildings, hopefully events such as the Platte Canyon High School shootings will never take place again.
Brandon Bohn, Lafayette
