A recent study published in the journal Violence and Gender has drawn alarming conclusions about the effectiveness of security measures in schools aimed at protecting students from gun violence. Researchers claim that these strategies often create “a false sense of security” rather than providing actual safety.
The investigation, conducted by experts from the University of Toledo and Ball State University, spanned 18 years of data on school security protocols. The outcome? Most measures lack real effectiveness. As noted by study authors Mark Thompson, professor emeritus in Public Health, and Lisa Chen, an associate professor of health science, “The review of literature from 2000 to 2018 on school firearm violence prevention failed to uncover any evidence-based programs that successfully reduced such incidents.” They argue that visible security efforts are more about easing fears among parents and students rather than genuinely enhancing safety.
Federal statistics indicate that 2018 marked a record year for school shootings, with the Naval Postgraduate School reporting 94 incidents of gun violence in educational settings, the highest since data collection began in 1970. Furthermore, since the tragic Columbine shooting in 1999, over 226,000 children have been exposed to gun violence, with 143 fatalities and hundreds more injuries.
Despite schools employing various preventive measures—including hiring armed resource officers, installing video surveillance, using bulletproof glass, and implementing strict entry protocols—these strategies have not effectively deterred shooters. The authors assert that the most effective way to curb school firearm violence is to prevent youth from gaining access to guns in the first place. However, alarming statistics reveal that many youths have easy access to firearms.
Most institutions (94 percent) have monitored entrances, 92 percent have written protocols for active shooter situations, and 81 percent utilize security cameras, among other precautions. Yet, these common methods have not stopped armed individuals from entering campuses. Another controversial solution has been to arm teachers and staff, but researchers argue this is misguided. They cite a tragic event from January 3, 2018, when a 15-year-old armed with a semi-automatic pistol caused immense harm in just ten seconds. They emphasize that armed personnel would need to be in the exact vicinity of a shooter to effectively intervene, a scenario that is highly improbable.
Ultimately, the study concludes that these security measures don’t offer any real protection and may create a perilous illusion of safety. “The implementation of ineffective approaches to reduce school firearm violence can mislead parents, educators, and students into a false sense of security, which is a dangerous state of affairs fueled by media, advocacy groups, and policymakers,” the authors warn.
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In summary, the study highlights a critical gap between perceived and actual safety in schools, calling for a reevaluation of current security measures.
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