The Leon County School Board got some good news on Monday, Oct. 17. It seems, despite an uptick right after summer vacation, the total number of students bringing guns to school this year is down. But board members insist that even one case is still too many.
The Board heard from law enforcement and community organization partners about their efforts to keep guns and other weapons off school grounds. Here's John Beeman with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
"There's a huge trend and a push to try and prevent these crimes from actually happening."
Even as Beeman spoke, an 8th grade student at Griffin Middle School was being arrested for bringing an air pistol onto campus. Royle King, who heads the mentorship group Omega Lamplighters, says law enforcers and adult role models will be at Griffin on December 12th to show at-risk kids how that kind of thing can change lives. And not in a good way.
"Because a lot of times they don't know the serious charges where you have a weapon; 'Oh, I'm a kid!' Well not in Leon County."
King says the message will soon be headed to the district's other middle schools and high schools.
