Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said the time has come to allow guns into our schools — to fight back against any future potential attacks that could strike.

“The average time for crazed gunman to do all types of carnage and mutilation in schools is three minutes … The police response time in the best of condition is five minutes, and it takes another five minutes to take out the threat. That’s the minimum,” Chitwood said. “Bottom line, by the time we get there, the carnage is already done.”

“What I’m talking about is having certain people who are hand-picked to carry a concealed weapon. They would be trained and certified and they would have to be discreet,” Chitwood said in an interview with the Delaware County Daily Times. “The program would be voluntary, with either a superintendent or a school board member selecting personnel who would then go through the process to obtain a permit, as well as undergo psychological testing.”

Chitwood said he would call it the “Save Our Children” initiative, and he knows it’ll raise some eyebrows.

» The Plan

The “Save Our Children” initiative would have two parts. He’d like to see armed security guards, along with teachers and support staff allowed to carry a gun.

“We have to start thinking outside the box,” Chitwood told the Delaware County Times. “You can’t stop a crazed gunman from killing our children and these school shootings prove that.”

Further, Chitwood emphasized that those who make these laws are protected by armed guards, metal detectors and showing government issued identification. “They are protected. Our children are not. We have to think outside the box. You are not going to get rid of guns,” Chitwood added.

The Upper Darby School District Superintendent, Daniel Narelli, told the Delaware County Daily Times the following statement:

“I appreciate the close working relationship we have with the UDPD and am open to exploring any consideration for added security measures at the request of our school board.”

Through K-12, Upper Darby School District has over 14,000 students enrolled.