The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) collects data about the number of students carrying weapons on school property and their access to firearms. In its latest report (Students Carrying Weapons on School Property and Anywhere and Students” Access to Firearms, May 2021) it was stated that the percentage of students in grades 9-12 who reported carrying a weapon during the previous 30 days decreased from 17 percent in 2009 to 13 percent in 2019. The percentage of students who reported carrying a weapon on school property during the previous 30 days decreased from 6 to 3 percent during the same period.
Four percent of male students reported carrying a weapon on school property, compared to 2 percent of female students. The percentage of students who reported carrying a weapon anywhere was lower for Black and Hispanic students (12 percent) than for students who were white (15 percent). EDFacts, using state agencies data, reported that during the 2018-19 school year about 2,900 public elementary and secondary students had possessed firearms at schools across the United States. Three states (New Jersey, Missouri, and Idaho) were below the national average, while Louisiana and Arkansas were above the national average.
The data show that a higher percentage of students living in small towns had access to a loaded gun without adult permission, compared to their peers enrolled in schools in cities or suburban areas. The percentage of those in rural areas had a higher rate of having a loaded gun in their possession than those in suburban areas.
My research for my latest book, Preventing School Violence: A User’s Guide (to be published by Amazon, February 2022) indicates that the majority of students carry weapons to school for their own protection. Of course, carrying a loaded weapon to school will not prevent a student from using it no matter what the reason.
While the news is good that the percentage of students who carried loaded weapons to school has decreased, the fact that 2,900+ students brought a loaded weapon to school should give educators pause.