Earlier last month, at Plum Grove Middle School in Rolling Meadows, staff discovered a loaded handgun and extra ammunition in a student’s backpack after a routine disciplinary interaction around 2:30 p.m. Police were called, the weapon was secured immediately, and no one was hurt.
Having a gun on school grounds is not just a safety issue, its also a sign of how easy it can be for children and teenagers to get their hands on firearms. Across the country, many incidents begin with a weapon taken from a home or obtained through an unsecured source. When a firearm is left unlocked or within reach, it increases the chance that it may appear in a setting where it should never be, such as a classroom. Even if the gun is never used, its presence disrupts a sense of safety and creates fear among students, staff, and families.
Stopping guns from getting into schools has to start at home and in the community. Adults need to keep their guns locked up and out of reach and talk to kids about how dangerous guns are. Families and communities can work together to make sure guns are stored safe and that children knows they are not toys. If these steps aren’t taken, schools have to deal with problems that could have been prevented. Everyone has a role to play in making sure kids stay safe and no one gets hurt.
Plum Grove’s quick action kept what could have been a disaster from happening, but we can’t rely on luck. District officials say they’ll review safety protocols and think about changes, If we start now, maybe the next backpack won’t hide a crisis — and maybe, just maybe, we can be prepared before luck has to step in.