There are terrible people in the world who want to kill children for whatever reason they have. It's been happening more and more, it seems, and aside from these drills, no one has any clear idea what to do about it. Gun control initiatives fail and are forgotten. A way of identifying and treating the mental illnesses of those who would commit such acts hasn't really been put forth that I've seen. Arming teachers probably wouldn't do anything more than increase accidental shootings, and strapped districts seem loathe to hire more security personnel. Even if they did so, it's not clear it would overall improve safety.

So much easier to pretend there are Daleks invading and that brave school teachers will have a plan to protect their charges like The Doctor would. Better that she believe that than face the sad fact that something so scary as shooters on school grounds exists, happens not infrequently, and the fight against them lies mired in a tangle of red tape.

I showed her "The Moonbase" not long ago. There's a quote from Patrick Troughton we both know by heart; "There are some corners of the universe which have bred the most terrible things. Things which act against everything we believe in. They must be fought."

Daleks she knows how to fight. Our country's refusal to take on this terrible thing with anything other than a drill? I'm not sure how I can explain how to fight that to her because I don't understand it myself. I guess if we're all going to pretend nothing can be done, she and I might as well pretend in The Doctor to deal with the consequences.

Jef has a new story, a tale mad robot nurses and a man of miracles called "Sleepers, Wake!" available now. You can also connect with him on Facebook.