No parent should have to wonder if their child will come home safely from school.

At Strawberry Crest High School in Hillsborough County, Florida, there have been three incidents involving guns during this school year alone that we are aware of. That is three too many.

Students deserve to walk into school each day knowing they are safe, and parents deserve to feel confident that their children are protected while they are learning.

Across Florida, counties such as Broward and Palm Beach have already implemented metal detectors at high schools to help prevent weapons from entering campuses. Hillsborough County should not wait for a tragedy before taking preventative action.

Under Florida Statute Chapter 1006 – School Safety, school districts are required to investigate threats to school safety, work with law enforcement when weapons are involved, and take steps to prevent future incidents when patterns appear. When multiple weapon-related incidents occur within a school year, these laws are intended to trigger a serious review of school safety measures.

District policies already allow schools to conduct metal detector screenings and safety searches as part of their safety plans. These tools exist specifically to deter weapons from entering campuses and to protect students and staff. Metal detectors are not about punishment, they are about prevention.

Students should feel safe walking into school every morning, and teachers and staff should be able to focus on education without worrying about potential threats.

We are calling on Hillsborough County Public Schools to take immediate action by installing metal detectors at Strawberry Crest High School and implementing consistent screening procedures at school entrances to help prevent weapons from entering campus.

Taking this proactive step will help protect students, teachers, staff, and visitors while reinforcing the district’s commitment to school safety.

If you are a parent, student, teacher, or community member who cares about the safety of our schools, please sign this petition and share it with others in the Strawberry Crest community so we can work together to create a safer learning environment for our children.