8th Grader Plans School Shooting: Should schools have metal detectors?

medal detectores may cost a lot but they should be used 2 keep them safe

See what all the public schools are driving kids to do?

With the way society is today and how violent things are with gangs and everything in movies as well, I think that metal detectors have become a completely necessary thing to ensure the saftey of the kids.

I hate saying this, but honestly, at this day in age we don't live in a world where we can not worry about these things. This is serious! This is happening (obviously). Definitely, schools should have metal detectors from middle school and up.

the thingz kids see on tv nd movies 2day u hav to be prepared 4 anything

Ah, what can be easier and cheaper as to set metal detectors! I think it would be better to put children into cage. and we will leave as in a zoo.
Metal detectors will not help here. it's necessary to develop spirituality of children. cultivate a sense of responsibility for their own life and their posterits. we should understand why children are so aggressive. Maybe they need something more in this life, aren't they?

Copy cat crimes ......

i they would help things like this stop from happening.BUT they would cause alot of problems as well. It would take a another two hours or so to get a school of 800 students to class.Then theres the cost of the people running them, and if thre is somthin on the kid thats gonna cause another problem.

Id rather say "no" but apparently they should....... one kid lost is one too many.

I think teachers need to be more involved with their students...I know that's difficult... but as a parent, just there for sports events and class activities, I can spot some kids that just dont seem like all is well ........granted, all kids will NOT be the same... but when a kid is alone and seems troubled, guidance or SOMEONE should step in and help. I don't know if that's even feasible tho

All the high schools and i think middle schools in my city have metal detectors. That's why they say we're a crappy school. Yet, even with all the security, people keeps snicking in drugs and stuff, so if a person is determined to get something inside the school he can sure make it by being snicky....
The best way to stop this from happening is by creating a good, safe environment for everyone. How to make it though?

My highschool had metal detectors in them for about four years, but they caused more problems than they fixed. My sister went to the highschool at the time they put in metal detectors, and she had broken her leg. There are now iron screws in her ankle and it would take her about ten minutes just to get through the front doors of the school. They cost waaaay too much problems, and if anybody was going to sneak anything in, they'd be able to reguardless of the detectors. (They are ways, trust me, there are.) Eventually, the school just had to take them down as they were taking up entirely too much time for the 'teachers' and cops watching kids go through and too many kids were just doing bad things in the halls right behind them.. of course there wouldn't be enough teachers watching THAT as there were five at a time watching the detectors.... So they just took them down and added high-end security cameras all over the school instead. There's only two blind spots that we all knew of- a tiny one in H hall and the very back of the cafiterea.

What we need is not a big scare and fancy security things, what we need is better counselors in the school.

I agree with the counselor comment..... ppl that are trained to detect when a kid is in trouble.....big or small problems...

they already do in Phiadephia High Schools

What a nightmare. An extra two hours a day to get the kids into the building. Then the thugs with the guns would just push their way in any how. I say, train the teachers that ate willing, to properly use firearms and allow them the right to carry. DONT let the kids know which teacher is armed and which is not!

A 15 year old in 8th grade has been left behind at least one grade level. We should allow those who don't want to go to school to drop-out and let them go to work at age 14 and up. They are frustrated, the teachers are frustrated, and they can become violent. There are some who are not suited to finishing school. We will always need physical laborers, so let them. After a year, some will see the sense in continuing their education and will be much more agreeable upon their return to school, of course most will not return. This leaves school for those that actually can do the work and are motivated.

I wish in cases like these that our world was more like it used to be, but at this point I think it's necessary. I do think that law-abiding, licensed college students should have the right to carry though.

im all for everyone having the choice to have guns hell i used to carry a 10 gauge shotgun in my truck and i drove my truck to high school for 2 years with the shotgun in my truck not thinking anything about it, but taking a gun to middle school or in the class room period is different, for college campus i could see acceptations to this because we are older and understand better about defense, maybe they would allow us to take our guns on the college campuses if we promised or signed a paper saying we would keep our ammo and gun separate unless needed

Sadly, I dont know what the answer should be. We, as a
society have reached a very troubled time in our lives.
We broadcast to everybody when something like this happens, and plant a seed in some troubled youngsters head, we invent games that teach them to kill, rape and rob,
violence is always front page news, how can we expect
troubled teens to act any other way? I guess parents are
the ones to blame, they wont take the time to raise their
children with any kind of meaning in their lives. So sad.

Yes, the it's sad but with today's way of handling problems with little care for life. We have allowed movies, tv, and games to influnce childern that this is a way to deal with a few of these problems.

Kids should never be afraid to get an education, and that should give enough incentive to help put these in schools. But the problem is regulation of these as well as getting overzealous attendants.

That is why stricter gun laws are needed. Not to say no one can have them but keep them from the hands of kids, convicted felons, etc.

if it means the safety of our children then I agree metal detectors are necessary. Hell the USA waists money on everything else use it for something useful.

I'm saying yes, but this is a problem that started long before the kid even thought about taking a gun to school.
There is a program called "Teen Screen" that can be useful in catching many of the problems associated with mental problems and especially those that many time result in attempted or successful suicide.
The program used to be offered free of charge for the training and software. The only cost would have been for the hardware associated with it and many schools are already equipped with computers. Volunteers could run it and the cost there would be eliminated.
The program is available through Columbia University and has been around for some time.

Maybe not all schools, since I have yet to hear of 5th graders doing this (usually the cut off around here for elementary school). I've worked in schools with metal detectors, and I can tell you they are expensive tripping hazards without live human beings to sit at the door or money in the budget to maintain them. They aren't a bad idea, but they aren't foolproof. If the students are letting kids in through the side door, metal detectors at the front door don't do much good.

Unfortunatley we need to keep kids safe from others who think this is the only way to deal with whatever issues are going on in their life. Being a teen today isnt like when I was one in the 80's. Things are diff and not all parents are there for their kids and teaching them better. Its horrible to hear that our youth are killing themselves because of the shit going on in their lives and there is no one to help. Its sad but sometimes a single parent working 2 or 3 jobs doesnt know whats going on in their kids world. I wouldnt want to be a teen again--not in this day and age.

Actually my answer would have been none of the above. We can't put up barriers and detectors everywhere. They aren't the answer. Modifying the behavior of children before they get to this stage is the answer. And don't think for a moment that TEACHERS should be responsible for this change! It has to happen at home with parents!!! We have testing and licensing for most important things we do in this country - driving, flying airplanes, the medical profession, etc. But apparently ANYONE can be a parent. Correction. Anyone can be a breeder. It takes time, common sense, and a willingness to put your child's wellbeing above your own to be a PARENT!!!

Many in certain areas already do. Schools are very aware since Columbine. I am sorry that kids learn from adults and the media that violence and death is the way to solve conflicts. It's a sad state of affairs and we are the ones to blame.

i love my life so i wouldnt want to be shot at.. its scary to know that young kids do that.. but bullying is a mega problem for teens now days.

I think that if we continue to have these problems, we have to take the next step in security. Battle Creek Central has metal detectors. I've been in there- it feels strange, having grown up in a rural school district, but I understand why they have to do it.

and hidden cameras.

No. These kids are miserable and have stupid parents and empty lives. I'm tired of safety first bullshit, people should try to actually prevent problems before they start instead of just throwing blame and money in every direction.

Some of the schools close to me probably already have them.....they are needed in these schools because of location and activity.....

I think it would be right

uh DUUUUHHHHH!!!

I guess the DUUUUUHHHHH was for me. How hard do you believe it is for a
teenager to bring a gun to school, especially if he has the help of just one other
teenager. Hand him the gun through a window. DUUUUUUUHHHHHH. And I'm
betting there are lots more ways to get anything into any school. The answers
begin at home, with the parents. We should hold parents responsible for the
actions of their children, I mean put them in jail, fine the hell out of them whatever
it takes to raise the children right. Start by teaching them how to pray, and ask
for help when they need it. Be a Mother or a Father, care about your offspring or
don't have any.

In this day and age it is safe and prudent to do. But why was not the daddy oof that little boy out with him teaching him to shoot and the safety issues concerning firearms. I was brought up aroundguns and knives and bow and arrows. ...........I was at least 6 when I was carefully helped to aim and shoot a 22 single shot rifle. I played cops and robbers and practiced gun safety with these toys, No one encouraged me. ehhh I bore you with the rest I guess. Have tou ever noticed that for every gun law passed more children get killed. I would wonder why if I didn' t have an idea I know.

I think purses and hand bags,backpacks should all be see thru.

Perhaps if parents actually were half-way aware of their children are up to, and the schools actually took a stance against bullying, things like these may be easier to avoid.

sadly. school isnt supposed to be like this.