Dozens of Indiana students are arrested for bringing a weapon to school. A 13 Investigates analysis shows a shift in what kind of weapon students have.“I felt like I was looking over my back too much,” the now-16-year-old told 13 Investigates.
It’s unclear just how many weapons and guns are found in Indiana schools each year. The state does not require districts to track or to report those numbers. Those numbers reflect the number of arrests tied to gun offenses including possession of a firearm on school property, dangerous possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun without a permit.In recent years, more local school districts started putting in place more advanced technology to help detect weapons. Perry Township installed a
"One of those eight events … a grandmother had it in her purse,” Spray said. “And her response was, 'I didn't even know it was in there.’ It was right before Thanksgiving, and I'm thankful that we were able to point it out … before it was sat on a couch at Thanksgiving meal, and somebody got into it that shouldn't have.”Perry Meridian HS installed a new weapons detection system last fall - one of several schools using new technology to find items like guns and knives.
13 Investigates spoke with another group of teenagers who attend school in different districts. They told 13News they do not feel safe at school. The teens have strong opinions about what schools can do to keep kids safe, such as installing and using weapons detection systems.