Should the United States give up freedoms to be safe?

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WTXF) - It is safe to say that everyone agrees the mass shootings have got to stop. The challenge is to make serious changes and sacrifices. One security expert spoke with FOX 29 about how far the United States needs to go.

There have been a total of 18 shootings on school campuses in the United States this year. 18 already and this is just the second week of February.

The harsh truth is whenever something like this happens, most people are angry or sad, but most people don't know what to do to affect change. Hopefully, most people would feel moved to do something, so the pleas for more than just talk should be loud.

One of the people who have been making that plea for years, first as a state police officer and now as a security expert is Brian Krause. Like most, he was saddened by the recent attack but he's also looking for answers even if too many find the answers as extreme.

"Schools aren't prisons, they aren't state department secure facilities but there are things that can slow those things down," said Krause.

He mentioned everything from bulletproof glass to secure class room doors that lock from the inside. But, he also is clear that his suggestions and others often take society down the path of debating freedoms versus the sacrifices society may need to make to ensure safety.

"Unfortunately, to keep people safe, generally with security, we have to give up a little bit of freedom," Krause said.

Freedom versus privacy. One issue that he's taken a close look into is social media.

"There are commercial products and companies that will monitor students' social media accounts," stated Krause.

For the record, his company is not one of them, but in most attacks, there have been indicators on social media that students noticed first but didn't have the necessary tools or policies in place to do anything about it.

"It can be as technical as a text messaging system to text 'This is what I saw.' It can be as simple as an anonymous card that you drop into a box outside the main office," explained Krause.

The frustration that many feel after attacks like this is the country is so divided on possible solutions that no one does anything. Is social media monitoring a violation of privacy? Maybe. Is bulletproof glass too extreme? Perhaps. But, one question to ask is if the next child is related to each individual, would the country try to focus on a solution for all, continue the discussion and at least investigate any and all possible solutions? For Goodness' Sake.