Do Pinellas Schools Need M16s?

Courtesy of a federal program that puts surplus military equipment back into action at the local level, the Pinellas County School District is now the proud owner of 22 M16 rifles.

The guns arrived in the district via the U.S. Department of Defense’s 1033 program, according to Channel 10. That program has also provided the University of Central Florida with 23 M16s and a grenade launcher. Los Angeles schools are among the biggest beneficiaries of the program, having received 61 M16s, three grenade launchers and a MRAP, which is an armored vehicle, the Washington Post reported.

Pinellas County Schools are in the process of developing plans for training security in using the equipment, district spokeswoman Melanie Marquez Parra told the Post.

“Our hope is that our officers never need to use this equipment,” the Post quoted her as saying.

Check out the Washington Post’s full report here.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it a good idea to arm school security with heavy weaponry? Tell us what you think by commenting below!

Photo Credit: Patch File Photo of a soldier firing a M16.