Statement of Gun Found at Westwood High School

Today at Westwood High School, a loaded handgun was discovered in a student’s backpack. According to the news reports, the student had passed through the metal detector, but was detained before entering the school. The gun was brought from home and was not stolen.

I strongly urge parents to have serious conversations with their children about gun safety and to diligently check their belongings to ensure they are not carrying anything that could harm others or jeopardize their future. While all the details may not be clear, one thing is certain this should never happen.

We are fortunate that nothing more serious occurred at Westwood today. It’s a sad reality that we need metal detectors in our schools, and I remain committed to advocating for their installation across all schools in Richland District Two.

This is not a minor mistake no 14-year-old should be carrying a handgun, as it is illegal. I hope the student and their parents receive the support they need to get this child’s life back on track.

We all must do our part to ensure a safe and secure environment for our future generation to thrive and learn.

You can also read the story from the news link is below:

https://wach.com/news/local/loaded-gun-found-in-bookbag-of-richland-two-student-westwood-high-school-weapon-back-to-school-possession-of-a-weapon-school-grounds-school-resource-officer#

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Gary Dennis

For Richland Two School Board

Posted on 12 Aug 2024, 17:04 - Category: News