Bernard Kerik Wants Armed Guards in Schools After Oregon Shootings

Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik told Newsmax TV on Friday that he would like to "see armed officers on campus grounds, armed officers in schools" in the wake of the Oregon community college shootings.

"There's only a matter of seconds to minutes that you can possibly get to one of these guys and take them out," Kerik, who heads The Kerik Group consulting firm, told "Newsmax Now" host Miranda Khan. "The response by first responders — it may take 3, 5, 10 minutes before they get there."

"If you have somebody on the campus, you're a lot better off," he said.

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Kerik headed New York's police force during the 9/11 attacks. His latest book is "From Jailer to Jailed: My Journey from Correction and Police Commissioner to Inmate #84888-054."

He told Khan that the attack proved that local authorities must have the training to respond to these events quickly and effectively.

"It's a tragic day, but these things have happened in the past," he said. "They're going to happen in the future.

"This is a clear demonstration of why we have to make sure that our first responders at the local and state levels prepare for these kind of events, that they have the training they need, that they have the resources, the equipment they need."

"Whether it's some lunatic like this guy or some [Islamic State] follower or sympathizer or al-Qaida sympathizer or follower, these things are going to happen — and we have to be prepared for them."

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