The other day someone reminded me of the quote: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” If our only focus is security and we disregard cost, codes, and traffic flow, it becomes much easier to prevent guns from entering schools. Although I’ve heard people say that no pricetag is too high when protecting our most precious assets, there are checks and balances to consider. Along with security we must consider safety, as well as budget and feasibility.
I recently saw a news story about a new product designed for school security and it made me wonder…how much is too much?
What do you think?
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I have worked in the K-12 world as either an Architect on the design side or as the Owner’s Representative on the building side for over 20-years. I don’t see how anything like this would prove effective.
While a metal detector might prove effective at locations such as a detention facility or a court house, a school would be near impossible to protect with this type of device.
In order for something like this to be effective, 100% of the people have to enter through the device 100% of the time. If there is an evening event (like a football practice, or a theatrical function in the Auditorium) what would prevent a planned threat from bringing a firearm into the school during one of those times when the metal detector was not in use, allowing for planting the firearm in a concealed location (above a ceiling, in a student locker, etc.) only to be retrieved at a later time or day when the school is back to functioning as a school?
To me, this is a complete waste and ineffective use of funds.
Way over the top.
School Districts don’t have unlimited funds.
I’d be interested to know what happens when the fire alarm is pulled…if they even thought about that.
Also, what happens when this gets installed in a school, and it actually works? From what I remember of my school days, kids did not go through the main doors 1 at a time. From the video, I’d guess there could wind up being 5-10 kids in that unit at a time all rushing to get in or out of the building. If it detects a weapon in the morning rush, several kids could wind up being trapped in there with the person who had the gun. Unless the plan is to have thousands of kids enter and exit the building 1 at a time…
Nifty, but really? Before pushing this to schools, I would like to see if this item is overwhelmingly accepted and installed in courthouses and government buildings all across the country. I mean, where do we draw the line on expenditures for security? With some school districts it will be an easy determination because of their budget constraints. And, of course, with this subject matter, it’s easy to “guilt” school boards and parents into demanding the monies be spent and items, such as this, be installed to protect little Bobby. I also take issue with the claim by the TV4 Nashville News report, that the unit is “bullet-proof”. A wild and often misused claim! From my memory, items such as this, teller windows, steel doors and frames, etc., are rated as “bullet resistive”.
Most schools already have some sort of security vestibule and many have metal detectors and security guards. When you look at statistical data (yeah, I know… the enraged parent screams, “My kid is not a number!”) the incidence occurrence is very low. Just look at deaths by commercial airliner crashes. When they happen, there is a large death count, but statistically, compared to all the people who travel by air, the amount is low.
Now, this will be debated back and forth like discussing our country’s (and the world for that matter) reaction to the CCP virus. You’re not going to win the argument right now.
We have to hope that our society can find the right balance to adequately protect our populace without overt infringement of our rights and privacy.
If it is only used AFTER school starts, what prevents someone from arriving early and bypassing the system? As Darrell mentioned, there are far too many scenarios that would allow someone to plant a firearm in the school and using it when school is in session.
At six figures, I can’t see this being used in too many schools.
There are so many easier ways to carry out an attack than going through a door. Any ground level windows? I feel most existing buildings were not constructed with the form of hazard represented by the attacker mentality.
We have installed security film on all exterior glazing at grade level. I was skeptical over the strength of applied films at first. Just watch some of the 3M demonstration videos and they will change your opinion of the films.
They aren’t meant to be bullet resistant, but they will provide the occupants the additional time needed to gain shelter or otherwise elude the attacker.
Yea, kids would have to enter 1 at a time. when they ALL got in to start class it would be time for them to go home. Schools districts would have to buy HUNDREDS per district
How about we stop letting the media scare us all to death with their panic porn reporting of school shootings. According to the CDC and New England Journal of Medicine the average student is statistically more likely to die on the ride to school, or by drug overdose, or even from heart disease, than in a school shooting. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of affordable common sense design decisions that can mitigate the entry of unwanted persons into a school building.