Did you know that it’s Tennessee state law for all new and remodeled schools to be treated with a bullet-resistant film on first-floor windows and doors? Neither did I. This legislation was passed in the wake of The Covenant School shooting, where the shooter gained access to the school by shooting the windows on a school door with their AR-15.

When I read this story, a few things came to mind. The first was graft. While I haven’t done any extensive research on the matter, it just smells like some state legislator, handing out a government contract to one of their cronies. I guess the bulletproof backpack industry wasn’t making enough money, but I digress.

The next thing I thought of was discrimination. If this newfangled film is being applied only on newly built or renovated schools, it seems like it’s only reaching schools in wealthier neighborhoods. I guess the poors can get shot for all they care.

Then there’s the issue of payment. Is the film and its implementation funded by the state, or is the cost falling on the school district? If it’s the latter, that’s money that could be better spent on actual educational needs rather than security theater.

Lastly, this film is nothing more than a Band-Aid placed on top of a sucking chest wound. It addresses only one specific incident and seems like an attempt to close the barn door after the horses have already escaped. If, God forbid, another school shooting were to happen in Tennessee, it’s unlikely to unfold in the exact same way.

That’s not even considering that this doesn’t address the real problem, guns. Without real gun control legislation, you’re not cutting off the head of the snake. Instead, you’re just flicking its nose and wondering why it bites you.

Source: Bullet-resistant film buys schools ‘more time,’ according to national installer