As a parent with three children attending public schools in Houston County, I am terrified every time I drop my children off at school. I pray for their safety due to an ongoing threat that faces schools across America – school shootings. This is an experience no parent should have to go through. Our children ought to walk down the corridors of their schools without fear of their safety. We invest in metal detectors and security measures in our courthouses, sporting events, and other firearm forbidden locations. Why, then, aren't we ensuring the same security intensity where our most precious assets – our children - learn and grow? 

Safety precautions have changed over time. Cameras were installed to fine speeders for driving carelessly by a school during school hours, how about the safety once they walk in the door?  Nowadays, majority of classwork activities are done online, thus making backpacks less necessary. Implementing a backpack ban could significantly reduce the potential for hidden lethal weapons. This would mean an increase in overall safety.

Houston County, we need to step up and show other communities the importance of ensuring that our children's schools aren't potential crime scenes. Let's set a precedent and follow in the footsteps of districts such as Philadelphia, which saw a 36% drop in weapon possession in schools after implementing metal detectors (Source: Journal of School Health). Additionally, incidents of crime in New York Schools decreased by 48% post installation of metal detectors (Source: National Bureau of Economic Research).

We cannot stand by and watch more families suffer the loss of their children in places that should be their second home, environments of growth and knowledge. Our children, the future of this country, deserve more from us. Stand with us and prioritize their peace. Demand that all Houston County public schools install metal detectors and ban backpacks. Please, sign this petition today.