Since 2020, school shootings have increased by 163%. There are several preventative measures that GEHS could choose to take to stop a possible gun-related crime in its tracks.
According to a study in 2019 from Statistica, 11.9% of schools in the US have installed metal detectors in their entrances. Utilizing this technology here at GEHS would be a very wise and efficient way to lessen crime rates in our school. Just the fact of GEHS owning them would most likely prevent anyone from coming in with weapons.
According to Ancgroup.com, “Just the presence of the machines alone is often enough to prevent someone from entering or even thinking of entering the building with a weapon.”
Faith Jolly, our SRO (Student Resource Officer) here at GEHS, says she’s aware of the growing rates of gun-related violence in the US and thinks that our district should do more to prevent something like this from happening at our school.
“Some bullet-proof glass. The fact that people can get in and out really easily is an issue,” Faith Jolly said.
Jolly also believes that metal detectors could be useful at GEHS but thinks we’d need a lot of people to man them as students come through.
“I think you’re gonna need ten more people to man those because if they go off then are you gonna search this person or wand them,” Faith Jolly said.
She then brought up that clear backpacks (book bags made of transparent plastic) would be an easier option as opposed to metal detectors.
GEHS’s principal, Frank Bell, says that he’s very focused on keeping students safe and out of harm’s way in regard to gun-related violence. He says that discipline has been raised for allowing other students inside the building without proper authority. He explained that if he was offered another SRO, he would gladly accept.
“If someone says ‘Hey, Mr.Bell, do you want another SRO’, I would say ‘You bet’,” Frank Bell said.
Overall, gun-related violence is becoming a major problem in the USA. We, as a district, need to make strides in creating a safer environment for not only the students, but for our teachers, our administrators, and for ourselves.
