(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor)

At a time in which our nation continues to experience the regular horror of school shootings, it’s understandable that everyone grasps for ideas – anything – that seems like it might prevent or reduce the terrifying carnage.

The gruesome notion of a disturbed killer gunning down innocent children is enough to make anyone wish that they could be present with a weapon of their own to stop them.

Unfortunately, as understandable as that instinct is, it simply can’t be the basis of public policy. That should be based on a dispassionate assessment of the facts and data, and it’s for that reason that Gov. Josh Stein did the right thing last week by vetoing a bill that would allow private school personnel and volunteers to carry loaded firearms on campus while children are present.

The bottom line: As the Governor rightfully noted, it’s one thing to have armed law enforcement officers with hundreds of hours of training on campus. Turning security over to volunteers with just a few hours as the bill permits would be much more likely to compromise school safety than enhance it.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.