Palm Beach County School Board discusses expelling students for bringing guns to school
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — At a special meeting Wednesday, the Palm Beach County School Board will discuss the expulsion of 9 students, 6 of which brought a weapon on campus, and 3 who posted/transmitted a threat of a mass shooting or terrorism.
School safety expert Ken Trump says this is an issue we’re seeing all around the nation.
"One gun is one too many. And we're seeing a transition from unloaded guns to loaded guns, the guns that are actually being used on school property,” said Trump.
The Palm Beach County School District started classes on August 10. 8 days after the first day, August 18, a student posted/transmitted a threat of a mass shooting or terrorism. Almost 2 weeks later, on _____ the first gun was found on campus. The 9 students facing repercussions are only from the first month of the school year.
There have been other instances where a student has brought a gun to school. The most recent instance we are aware of is Oct. 26. Where a Palm Beach Gardens High School student was arrested after a loaded gun fell out of their bag.
Trump tells CBS 12 that other schools across the country are seeing larger guns being brought in.
“We've had cases just in the last few weeks of kids raising an AR-15 with dozens of rounds of ammunition. loaded guns falling out of kids' pockets,” said Trump.
Trump says while this is disturbing, it’s not happening every day.
“The good news is the vast majority of kids don't have weapons or one weapon on campus,” said Trump.
But Trump says these situations are not just on the kids, parents could also be at fault.
“If you're going to have a weapon in a home, secure that weapon properly, not leaving it open and accessible to kids,” said Trump.
Trump says the fact that the guns and the posts were found before something happened is a good thing. He says the number one way to prevent a school shooting is by saying something if you see something.
The students involved in these incidents were not identified, but their expulsion was discussed at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
