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much less prevalent. For example, at MSD High School in Parkland,
Florida, Nikolas Cruz had no trouble entering the school building with a
duff el bag containing an AR-15 rifl e. Faced with a metal detector like the
ones found in large urban schools, Cruz likely would not even have made
the attempt. “I think urban schools are eons ahead,” says Philip Smith,
president of the National African American Gun Association. “Th ey’ve
been dealing with violence a lot longer than suburban schools.” 9

The Value of Peace of Mind
Another advantage of metal detectors is the peace of mind they off er.
With these devices monitoring school doors, students and their parents
can feel confi dent that fi rearms or other weapons will not fi nd their way
inside. No security method is foolproof. But metal detectors, with their
strong track record of preventing gun violence at schools and other ven-
ues, have earned the confi dence of ordinary citizens.
Peace of mind plays a crucial role in their use. For example, height-
ened anxiety about recent gun attacks led the Bayonne School District
in New Jersey to expand its use of metal
“The board decided detectors. Bayonne installed its fi rst
it would be in the metal detector at the local high school
best interest to make in 1996. After the shooting in Parkland,

everyone feel more Florida, Superintendent Michael Wanko
comfortable to have and the Bayonne school board sought to
metal detectors in each ease fears going forward. According to
of our schools.” 10 Wanko, “Th e board decided it would be
in the best interest to make everyone feel
—Superintendent Michael Wanko of the more comfortable to have metal detec-
Bayonne School District in Bayonne, New
10
Jersey tors in each of our schools.” Soon grade
schools and middle schools in Bayonne
will all be equipped with the walk-through devices. School boards around
the country would be wise to follow Bayonne’s lead on this issue.
Th ose who question the cost of placing metal detectors in school en-
tryways are ignoring the even greater value of peace of mind. Representa-
tive Granger is one of several lawmakers off ering federal plans to pay for

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