Not Too Hard, Not Too Soft--Finding Balance in a Frightening Time

I've been struck by some of the language being used in the discussion about school safety, in particular the use of the words "hard" and "soft."  Schools, like churches, synagogues, shopping malls and a number of other public gathering places, are often spoken of as being "soft" targets.  Places and institutions easily accessed and therefore more vulnerable to attack.  In recent years, and especially in these post-Parkland days, we have heard a lot of talk about the importance of "hardening" such places.  We have also heard a wide variety of strategies for doing just that.  Better surveillance.  Metal detectors at entryways.  Security cameras.  Better communications with law enforcement.  Arming teachers.  Stricter gun control measures,  And the list goes on.

My own congregation is wrestling with the issue.  We have a sub-committee of our Church Council working on the matter, exploring the various options, looking at our building and our procedures to see what we might be able to do to create a safer environment.  All of which is good.  All of which is important.  But how much do we want to harden our schools. our places of worship, even our shopping centers and gymnasiums?  What price, figuratively speaking, will we pay?

These are difficult decisions.  These are challenging times!  I wish I could say I have all the answers, but I don't.  But I do think the words we are using, "hard" and "soft" do point to certain things we might consider as we ask the questions that need to be asked.  When something is hard it is often impenetrable, it is often unbending.  When something is soft it is more easily penetrated, it is more flexible.  How do we balance the need for schools and places of worship in particular to be safe and difficult to penetrate for perpetrators of crime and violence, while at the same time allowing for ready access for those who want to worship and learn?  How do we create policies and procedures that a strong enough, firm enough, to do the job of protecting participants, while still being open to change, open to new ideas, in a word, flexible?

Tough questions, for tough times.  But questions we need to address and, to the best of our ability, answer.  Not too hard, not too soft--but just right.