Demand Change: Metal Detectors In CCISD Schools

School shootings are on the rise – a sad reality. Over 22 school shootings have occurred so far this year, with Santa Fe hitting too close to home. While gun-reform is being debated, something needs to happen NOW to protect our children.

A holistic approach must be taken to protect our students, teachers, and staff – from counseling to increased security measures - and metal detectors are a critical component to preventing guns and weapons from entering our schools. Metal detectors could serve as a safety net, so our students and teachers are not left defenseless in their classrooms when other measures do not stop weapons from entering our schools.

We pass through metal detectors at sporting events, concerts, and even the happiest place on earth, Disney. Businesses throughout the country have them too. Don't our children deserve the same level of protection? We have to make a change.

If you support metal detectors in CCISD, please review the below petition, sign and share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can make a huge stride to protecting our children!

Sincerely, Catherine Clark & Lara Forde

PETITION FOR METAL DETECTORS IN CCISD SCHOOLS

WHEREAS, we believe that all children deserve to be free from gun violence;

WHEREAS, there have been multiple massacres in our school classrooms and campuses in recent years where innocent children and teachers have lost their lives while under the protection and care of school systems during school hours;

WHEREAS, school shootings are on the rise with more people being killed or injured in school shootings in the United States since 1999 than in the entire 20th century;

WHEREAS, the Santa Fe High School shooting occurred in close proximity to CCISD schools, tragically impacted many families in our community;

WHEREAS, the first day back to school following the Santa Fe shooting, a student at League City Intermediate in CCISD brought a gun to school, and multiple gun threats have been reported in the District;

WHEREAS, research shows that metal detectors have helped schools in urban areas to abstain from gun violence; and

WHEREAS, metal detectors will immediately increase the security at CCISD schools, protecting our children and teachers.

THEREFORE, we request that CCISD take immediate measures to protect our children, teachers, and staff and prevent guns and other weapons from entering our schools including, but not limited to, installing metal protectors on all entrance doors to all CCISD schools.

FOOTNOTES & SOURCES:

See "Rapid Rise in Mass School Shootings in the United States, Study Shows," Science Daily (April 19, 2018), https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180419131025.htm.

See also "Eighteen Years of Gun Violence in U.S. Schools, Mapped," The Washington Post, (February 14, 2018), https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/14/eighteen-years-of-gun-violence-in-u-s-schools-mapped/?utm_term=.57c538e6b568

See also "List of School Shootings in the United States," Wikipedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States.

Examples include Columbine High School (CO 1999), Red Lake Senior High School (MN 2005), Virginia Technical College (VA 2007), Northern Illinois University (IL 2008), Sandy Hook Elementary (CT 2012), Chardon High School (OH 2012), Santa Monica College (CA 2013), Oikos University (CA 2012), Sparks Middle School (NV 2013), Arapahoe High School (CO 2013), Marysville Pilchuck High School (WA 2014), Umpqa Community College (OR 2015), Townville Elementary (SC 2016), Independence High School (AZ 2016), Aztec High School (NM 2017), North Park Elementary (CA 2017), Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School (FLA 2018), Highland High School (CA 2018); Forest High School (FLA 2018); Great Mills High School (MD 2018), Huffman High School (AL 2018), Salvador Castro Middle School (CA 2018), Marshall County High School (KY 2018), Italy High School (TX 2018), Santa Fe High School (TX 2018), Noblesville West Middle School (IN 2018).

Eric Weston, Chief of Police for Boston Public Schools, credits metal detectors with keeping firearms out of the schools almost entirely and reducing the number of knives and other weapons in school buildings. See "Metal Detectors in Schools: Boston's Success Story," Worchester News (May 13, 2015)http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2015/05/metal_detectors_in_schools_bos.html.

New York Police Department data also shows metal detectors significantly cut down the number of box cutters, knives, and guns that were smuggled into the city's public schools. See "New Data Shows Metal Detectors Are Making Schools Safer," New York Post (July 22, 2016). https://nypost.com/2016/07/22/new-data-shows-metal-detectors-are-making-schools-safer

Ken Knippel, Aldine's assistant superintendent for administration: "They're effective. Period." https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/how-effective-are-school-metal-detectors/285-562357792

Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, Spring ISD chief of school leadership and student support: "For us in Spring ISD, it has worked; the metal detectors are a deterrent." https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/how-effective-are-school-metal-detectors/285-562357792

"Visit with Aldine ISD and Safety Discussion: Are Metal Detectors Effective?" (report by Cindy Smith and Kenzie Conway, July 9, 2018, concluding, "Do metal detectors work? YES! ZERO instances of guns since 2010!")