Michigan school district bans backpacks after 3rd grader brings loaded handgun to school

Another school district in Michigan is instituting a no-backpack policy after school officials confiscated a loaded handgun from an elementary school student on Wednesday.

Grand Rapids Public Schools says that Wednesday’s confiscation marks the fourth such incident within the district this year, just over a week removed from another incident in which a 7-year-old brought an unloaded handgun to another elementary school.

“This is a repeated occurrence that we have to get a hold of,” said Leadriane Roby, GRPS superintendent. “We are enacting, effective immediately, a backpack ban. That is a drastic step but we think it’s a necessary step because we want to ensure the safety of not only our scholars, but our staff and our community.”

Knowledge of the loaded firearm came to light when another student reported it to Stocking Elementary staff members late Wednesday morning. Grand Rapids police responded to the incident by confiscating the gun and removing the 3rd-grade student who brought it to school. 

In comments, Police Chief Eric Winstrom stressed the need for parents to store firearms at home securely, along with being involved and checking their children’s backpacks before school.

“Children, and I’m talking 7-year-olds and 8-year-olds, did the right thing and informed adults that they trusted about this dangerous circumstance,” Winstrom told News 8 in Grand Rapids. “That’s what avoided this — decisions by 7- and 8-year-olds. What we need in the city of Grand Rapids is decisions by adults in this city to be just as good as these 7- and 8-year-olds to make these decisions to do the right thing.”  

Winstrom also said that the parents of the 3rd-grader could face criminal charges, but that that decision would be in the hands of a county prosecutor.

The backpack policy has already been enacted with plans for it to continue through the rest of the school year. School leadership has not yet discussed whether or not the policy will continue indefinitely. 

“Currently, the ban is for any large-sized bag capable of concealing a weapon the size of a firearm. Small compacts to carry personal hygiene items will be allowed. Any bag allowed in may be subject to search,” reads the district’s website. 

Unlike similar instances in other districts across the country, GRPS will not allow clear backpacks as a replacement for standard backpacks during the ban. Instead of clear backpacks, the district is “actively considering alternatives and will update our families on any changes.” 

GRPS becomes the second district in Michigan to ban backpacks this year as Flint Community Schools enacted their policy in April. Flint enacted its policy due to an “increase in threatening behavior and contraband, including weapons, being brought into schools at all levels.”