Children have always managed to take a variety of weapons to school, but the ones available today are much more powerful. School officials are concerned about all weapons, but knives, guns and explosive devices present the greatest threat to school safety. Of these, firearms pose the greatest risk to both students and school staff, multiplying the potential for serious injury and death. Students carry weapons for a variety of reasons. Some do it to show off or display the weapon to a friend.
Many weapons also come to school because of the proliferation of guns and drug activity.
Weapons are found in schools simply because weapons are available in the community. It is estimated that half of the households in this country possess a firearm. Underlying the reasons students cite for bringing weapons to school seems to be society's attitude that violence is an effective way to deal with a problem. Television and movies regularly include violence as a problem-solving technique. Probably the most controversial method for locating weapons is the metal detector.