The purpose of this study was too explore the growing dilemma of school shootings and if the placement of armed staff members was the best approach in providing a safe environment for students and faculty alike, while still being beneficial to education. This study looks into school districts across the country of many different sizes. Different states are going to have different laws and policies that fit their distinct needs. Literature on school shootings and armed faculty consisting of books and articles as well as federal and state laws outlining the current rise of school shootings will be reviewed. Interviews with be conducted with retired law enforcement about school safety, armed personnel, policies and procedures, mental health, and their concerns. The result of this study will contribute gainful information to all researchers alike in terms of recommendations for future research, policies, and practices. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]