Georgia mulls legislation requiring weapons detection systems in all public schools

Georgia schools should feature all the security procedures of state courtrooms – including checks for any weapons, argues House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Mulberry.

“As a practicing attorney here in Georgia, I am used to entering a Georgia courthouse most days, where I pass through security which includes a weapons detection system,” he said, reported by NPR and PBS affiliate WABE.org.

“It’s my opinion that Georgia students deserve similar security when entering Georgia public schools, that includes a weapons detection system.”

Efstration is sponsoring House Bill 1023, which would mandate all state public schools to set up such detection systems “at every student point of entry,” according to the news outlet.

“The bill is not meant to apply to doors that are locked and alarmed, emergency doors or doors not intended for student use.”

The legislation passed the House Education Committee on Feb. 5 and needs both House and Senate approval to become law, Gray Media’s WALB reported.

The vote was split, with some representatives expressing concerns over legal responsibilities.

“What sort of liability does this put our school systems in if we say you have to have every entrance covered?” asked state Rep. Karen Lupton, D-Chamblee.

“I don’t see that this in any way changes liability; it’s just my opinion on that,” Efstration answered. “That issue hasn’t been raised with me since I introduced this bill.”

Weapons detection systems ‘not foolproof’

An increasing number of school districts nationwide are turning to weapons detection systems to curb higher rates of gun and student violence.

However, states such as New Mexico have reported mixed results concerning their effect on reducing crime.

“I know there’s a perception that metal detectors are a way to go to keep campuses safe,” said Martin Salazar, senior director of communications at Albuquerque Public Schools. “They are not foolproof there.”

Salazar highlighted one incident at a high school in the Phoenix Union School District where a student – just two weeks after a weapons detection system was installed – still managed to sneak a knife through a metal detector and fatally stab a classmate.

Another recent stabbing in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) occurred when a student’s mother managed to sneak a knife into a school despite the presence of metal detectors, according to Chalkbeat Detroit.

“The mother entered the school through a metal detector that went off, the district said. The school’s security guard did not search the mother, according to DPSCD.”