Sending your kids to school is supposed to be a haven for learning and social interaction. It is a protective environment where adults help mould our youth and train them to take their place in the world.
Unfortunately, kids spend lots of unmonitored time together, and this is where things can spiral out of hand. Social media harassment spills into real life, and when bullying occurs, some children and young adults reach their breaking point. If there is no firm guidance at home, there is no safe space to escape, and some kids feel they have no choice but to act out violently at those who hurt them.
Schools shooting occur all around the world, and often it is a result of:
- Abuse at home
- Getting bullied at school and online
- Retaliation
- No value for life
Is there anything we can do to stop it? Here are some solutions to school shootings that can be effective.
Solution #1: Gun Detection Technology
If you can stop a gun from being brought into the school, you prevent a school shooting in real-time. Unfortunately, metal detectors and pat-downs are not always accurate and are a visible reminder that a violent person will try to evade.
With cutting-edge gun detection technology, it more accurately detects the threat while being unobtrusive. Gateways work by requiring students and visitors to pass through them while scanning occurs. This technology uses AI-powered sensors to find guns, knives, and other weapons and pinpoint their location on the body while alerting security to quickly deal with it before the person enters the building.
It also allows for quicker access for students and staff because they don’t have to go through a metal detector, get personally searched or empty their pockets, purses and bags. These gateways are portable, too, so they can be moved to different access points where needed or used in multiples to cover many entrances. This is the modern way to stop school shootings.
Solution #2: Ensure School Buildings Are Secure
You can’t always control what someone is going through, and If they have access to a firearm and want to come to school, it may be hard to stop it. One way to reduce school shootings is to bar access to the school.
Have only one door the school can access and have an adult monitor it. This way, the teachers or parents can make sure only students that go to the school get in, but they can also look for signs of distress in anyone or see any suspicious movements.
Classroom doors should be equipped to lock from the inside, and master keys should only be given to principals and other senior staff. Security cameras are a good way of letting students know that they are being monitored as well as being able to spot any potential intruder.
Solution #3: Learn the Warning Signs
Teachers have a hard job and are busy, but because they interact with their students daily, they get to know their personalities. This also means they may be able to identify concerning behaviours or communications.
Here are some of the things both staff and students can look for:
- Isolation
- Depression
- Escalating anger
- Sadness
- Self-harm
- Bullying complaints
- Talk of suicide
- Interest in weapons
- Changes in behaviour
- Altered appearance
- Harassing others
While most kids may experience one or two of these at different times, if you notice a student that exhibits five or more, this is a clear warning sign that they may act out violently.
Solution #4: Community Tip Line
School shootings happen in an instant, and there is usually a build-up that other people may notice. They could be friends with someone who talks about using a gun to get back at a bully or changes in the person that cause concern. All the signs on the list above tell a story of someone heading towards a break.
A community tip line allows fellow students and other public members to contact school leaders and law enforcement when they think gun violence may be imminent. This should be done confidentially and anonymously so people will more easily come forward, and the tip line can be in the form of the following:
- Phone numbers
- Texting
- Email addresses
- Phone apps
Advertise this tip line around the school with handouts and posters so everyone knows how to contact it and list the behaviours to look out for. This method may stop a school shooting before it happens and save lives.
We must prevent school shootings so everyone is safe while pursuing their education. These solutions protect staff and students and can also help the troubled person before committing a crime they can’t recover from.