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a school building. “Would it work? Just ask Congress,” writes parent
Rebecca Wendlandt to the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington.
“You can’t get into the Capitol without going through [a metal detec-
tor]. . . . Since the U.S. can afford metal detectors and armed guards for
[Congress], are they more important than our children?” 6
There are many good reasons to install metal detectors in schools.
They are reliable, having been employed successfully at airports, arenas,
office buildings, and other public facilities for years. Simply the presence

of a metal detector can dissuade a potential shooter from even trying to
smuggle in a firearm. The use of metal detectors also promotes peace of
mind for students, parents, teachers, and school officials.

An Effective Safety Measure
Installing a metal detector at a school entryway is one of the most effec-
tive safety measures available. A metal detector can be in the form of a
walk-through unit or a wand (handheld scanner) wielded by a security
guard. Either type can detect guns, knives, or other prohibited objects
hidden in an individual’s clothes or in a bag, purse, or backpack. Proper
use of a metal detector makes it very difficult for a potential school shoot-
er to smuggle a firearm into a school building.
School districts that have invested in metal detectors have seen inci-
dents involving weapons decline significantly. For example, the Aldine
Independent School District in Houston, Texas, is one of two districts
in the area that have installed metal detectors in all its schools. Aldine
schools have seen the number of weapons incidents each school year fall
from an average of 12 to 2.3. Houston’s Spring Independent School Dis-
trict has seen a similar decline. After the Santa Fe High School shoot-
ing in May 2018, other schools in the area and around the nation have
looked into installing their own metal detectors.
Some critics argue that metal detectors in schools are not practical,
because it takes too long to check everyone entering the school each
morning. However, students at Aldine schools accept the practice as part
of their morning routine. Most students arrive at school a bit earlier than
before. They line up in an orderly way, take off their coats and jackets,

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