As students returned to campus in early September, many recognized Matthew Weichold’s familiar face as La Salle’s campus security guard, but also noticed something different. Holstered at his side was a Glock 9mm pistol, loaded with 17 rounds of ammo.

With the issue of school shootings becoming more prominent in everyday life, the La Salle administrative team, with thorough discussion, decided this past summer to position an armed guard at the school’s entrance.

Although this decision was only announced to the La Salle community on September 2nd in a letter sent home to parents from Mr. Andrew Kuffner, the planning began last school year, alongside the plans for construction of the new front entrance.

La Salle’s principal, Mr. Kuffner, provided some explanation on the decision-making process in his letter to families. He made it clear the decision was one that all involved in the process believed to be essential to student safety.

“The unfortunate truth based on all of the research of school-based violence is that visible armed security personnel provide an effective deterrent,” Mr. Kuffner said. “The best way to save lives, should it be required, is to have the ability to respond immediately.”

The process of a security overhaul started back in 2012, with recommendations from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office following a security audit of the school, which was conducted in the wake of the Clackamas Town Center shooting that year. Small things were suggested, like better lighting and keeping doors locked, but the security audit also identified the need for better preventative measures.

Indeed, the new front entrance for La Salle wasn’t planned solely as an aesthetic feature, but instead as a secure entrance that allows for better documentation of who enters and leaves during the day, as well as providing an easier way to lock down the school in case of emergency.

This choice was a difficult one to make, taking more than a year to arrive at the final decision. Even after safety workshops, research, and multiple staff meetings, the decision kept going back and forth.

The Board of Trustees ultimately made the decision to arm the security guard to provide a safe and secure environment for the students of La Salle.

Mr. Brian Devine, Vice Principal for Student Life, said, “In the event that our La Salle community is faced with an armed threat to our students’ lives, our Campus Safety Officer is now able to respond quickly and expertly to protect our school,”

He went on to say, “this is an entirely external focus on assuring that no outside force could harm members of our La Salle community.”

One of the key decision makers for this move was Mrs. Denise Jones, La Salle’s President, who “met with our Board of Trustees several times during the year,” Mr. Devine said. After much discussion, the board eventually moved forward in supporting the decision to arm the campus security guard. “Without the full support from the Board, this decision would not have been finalized,” he said.

La Salle’s campus security guard, Mr. Weichold, has been a part of our community since the beginning of last school year. Employed with Oregon Patrol Services, Mr. Weichold had already received the state-required training necessary to wield a firearm, making the transition much easier.

Mr. Weichold’s certification with firearm usage comes from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, and is required by anyone who uses a firearm for their job. The certification comes after a rigorous training course, covering about 38 hours worth of unarmed and armed training, as well as covering what a guard is legally allowed to do. Mr. Weichold’s personal experience with firearms runs about five years, two of them in a working environment.

Mr. Weichold says that he was personally in support of the decision to move to an armed guard model, saying that attacks are much less likely to happen if it’s known there is an armed guard on site. Mr. Weichold says that he has never had to draw his weapon on an aggressive individual in the course of his career.

Mr. Weichold also explained how armed guards serve as a distraction in an active-shooter situation, allowing students and faculty to leave safely.

At least for some in the La Salle community, the decision has been a polarizing one, although much of the concern seems to have been expressed by parents and staff, with many students responding positively.

In an anonymous poll of 113 students, mostly juniors and seniors, 72.6 percent of those surveyed either “think it’s a good idea” and “makes me feel safer” or are “okay with it” but are “a bit skeptical of the necessity” of a weapon. The other 27.4 percent believe, with varying degrees of response, that a weapon is unnecessary for safety.

Junior Ryan Enslow believes arming the security guard was a necessary measure for safety. He has no anxiety about having a gun on campus, as he feels Mr. Weichold is level-headed enough to make the right choices, saying “I hope it’s not needed.” However, he said that he feels more comfortable knowing that there is an armed security guard in the event of an emergency.

Senior Simone Stoney does not believe having a gun on campus is the right decision. She expressed that there is “no reason for a gun on campus” and fears the possible misuse of the gun. Although she does trust Mr. Weichold, she does not think that arming him is necessary.

Mr. Mac is one of several people who have expressed concern over the new decision, believing it to be contradictory to the Catholic roots of La Salle. He strongly advocates for keeping a peaceful environment, one that doesn’t have “the idea of meeting force with force.”

From his perspective, having a firearm on campus is contrary to the school’s core values. “I don’t like that when someone enters our house, a home rooted in the Catholic Christian faith, the first person they encounter is wearing a gun,” he said. “Christianity has a long tradition of non-violence. A cornerstone of the gospels is that we are to meet violence with love.”

Ms. Coleman is also hesitant about the decision, despite growing up around firearms. “I’m really apprehensive of having armed security on campus, because I don’t think it’s necessary,” she said. “When we arm people at schools, [there is] this idea that a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy, [and] I just feel like it kind of creates this expectation that it’s going to happen.” She appreciates the amount of serious consideration that went into this decision, but still believes that a gun is unnecessary.

A senior’s parents, who asked to be kept anonymous, spoke out to the Falconer by email about what they see as the excessive nature of a gun on campus, believing that the best solution lies in education. “Shootings happen too fast – more guns make it more dangerous,” the parents said. Active community building, including measures such as proactively offering emotional and mental support, is their preferred action over reaching to a gun for protection. “Society needs La Salle and each of us to be beacons of kindness [and] compassion — this path will lead us to the future we want for our kids — guns will lead us on a different path,” they said.

Ultimately, despite knowing that there have been some disagreements over this decision, Mr. Devine remains confident that the process resulted in the best consensus possible.

“Our officer’s primary focus is providing a welcoming  and secure environment every day for our students, staff and visitors, which has not changed over the last three years,” he said. “Hopefully this creates a safer atmosphere for our students.”

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What do you think about the decision to arm our campus security guard? Let us know in the comments below.