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set aside their cell phones or laptops, and hand over their backpacks and
bags to be examined. Th e whole process takes only a few minutes. It is
much like entering an airport prefl ight or a sports arena before a game.
At any rate, US representative Kay Granger of Texas, a former teacher,
thinks worries about time and logistics are overblown. “Some people say
there will be lines, they’ll have to stand outside forever,” says Granger. “I
said they don’t do that at the airports. When they put metal detectors at
the airports, the planes took off at the same time. People got there earlier.

Th ey planned that.” 7

A Deterrent That Works
Just the presence of metal detectors at school entryways tells potential
shooters they will be caught if they try to smuggle in a fi rearm. As a
result, few will even try, making metal detectors a deterrent that works.
As long as metal detectors are kept in place and operated properly, the
problem of gun violence inside schools will be greatly reduced. “Th ese
machines are defi nitely a deterrent,” says Joe Vazquez, director of secu-
rity sales for Garrett Metal Detectors.
“Someone who has at least some hesi- “These machines are
tancy with what they’re doing will prob- definitely a deterrent.
ably reconsider if they see a checkpoint Someone who has at
with a metal detector.” 8 least some hesitancy
To fi nd proof of how metal detec- with what they’re doing
tors deter shootings, one need look no will probably reconsider
further than urban schools in large cities if they see a checkpoint
like New York, Chicago, Detroit, and with a metal detector.” 8
Los Angeles. Security experts note that
many urban schools have been employ- —Joe Vazquez, director of security sales for
ing metal detectors since the 1980s with Garrett Metal Detectors
great success. For example, the New York
Police Department reports that 2,120 weapons were confi scated in New
York City high schools in the 2016–2017 school year. About half were
discovered due to metal detectors. Almost all mass shootings in America
have taken place in suburban or rural schools, where metal detectors are

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