Let me first start off by giving my condolences to the families of the three students that died in the tragic school shootings at Chardon High School in Ohio. No parent should ever have to out live their children and today my heart is truly broken.

I also want to state that I am a school board member who is currently serving as a school board president in my local school district. I am representing myself here and these opinions are my own.

I was shocked when I first heard about the shootings and like many thought, "Not again!"

During interviews someone inevitably made a statement about the community be a small town where everybody knows everybody and that "this is not supposed to happen here."

Now I truly believe that person and other people that say that don't mean any harm. But that statement that it's not supposed to happen here implies that it's supposed to happen someplace else. This is the United States of America and it should never happen anywhere.

All of OUR children regardless of where they live, what color they are, or what their socio-econmoic is should be safe at school.

As a school board member a school shooting is my greatest nightmare. I believe it's safe to say that for the overwhelming majority of those who serve as school board members that holds true. Trust me right now districts all over the country are going over their protocols and plans for a school shooting. I know I have already emailed my superintendent about the situation and I'm sure many board presidents have.

I don't want to see this happen anywhere at all. So it's time for this country to make a choice when it comes to the easy accesibility to firearms.

What's more important? Our right to bear arms or are children's right to live.

George Cook aareports.com