Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, on Lockdown

Hopefully everything it OK at the High School. I have been in lockdown a few times for bomb threat when I was in High School back in the day.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, has been placed on lockdown.

Aurora is just about an hour away from Chicago and a couple of hours from me since I live in Peoria, Illinois.

The article, "Aurora high school on lockdown, police checking rooms," goes on to say that the situation has been posted on the school's website and parents are being advised by phone and e-mail.

So far the action has been evaluated as proactive indicating that all students at

Waubonsie Valley High School

are safe subject to the police and administration going room to room.

Originally it was reported that someone was shot at but that rumor has been deemed false. In fact, at this time the rumor of a firearm is unsubstantiated but, of course, must be checked out.

The Freshman Building at

Waubonsie Valley High School

has been cleared but the main school remains on lockdown. The police want to verify that there is no one being held hostage or hiding in the school.

This type of fear has emanated from the few decades of school violence often ending in mass killings such as Columbine and Platte High school to name just a couple.

I was surprised to find out that this is considered an act of terrorism.

The minds of young people and others don't always mesh.

Back in 1970 there were a lot of confrontations between the National Guard and everybody from students to radicals who wanted to show their dissatisfaction with the government.

One such incident was Kent State University. Students were placing flowers in the barrels of the soldier's guns and putting them in a corner making them feel unsafe. Ultimately they began random firing killing four students who had nothing to do with anything.

The National Guard was heavily criticized but it should be remembered many of these soldiers were just kids as well and it is really unfair to break the law and essentially "tease the dog" and then complain when you get bit.

I recall when my son's high school went on lockdown. Someone thought they saw a gun. They did but it was a wooden model. Still, the kid was expelled. That is how serious school systems are taking the situation these days.

While many people would disagree with me, I am all for weapons checks at school doors. It is better to be safe than sorry.

By Gary Davis

References:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1323596,waubonsie-valley-high-school-lockdown-121008.article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shootings