Recently, I have heard and read a lot about what school administrators and law enforcement are doing to make public schools safer. These actions are good news! I believe that parents have a responsibility to do all they can in their homes to protect students at school. Here are some questions parents might want to ask themselves:

• If there is a gun or guns in the home, are they accessible to children, regardless of age?

• Is ammunition kept separate from the gun(s)?

• If there is conflict between family members, can it be resolved? Counseling might be helpful.

• Is a family member being bullied at school, or even at home?

• Do parents know what their child or children are viewing on their computers, cellphones or other devices?

• Do video “games” played at home use the word “kill” indiscriminately? If so, this can desensitize users to the real impact of killing.

• Are parents saying “I love you” and showing that love to their children by their actions?

• Do children feel comfortable discussing any problem with their parent(s)?

• Are parents teaching and demonstrating respect for others?

Addressing the above questions requires a lot of time and effort, but it is a good investment of both. I strongly believe that we as parents should not simply rely on school administrators and law enforcement to protect our children, even though they do their best. Parents must do their part in their homes to help keep our precious children safe at school, too. Billy Hill

Colorado Springs