(BAY MINETTE, Ala.) Parents tell us they're more concerned now with their children's safety following several recent cases of guns being found at local schools. The Baldwin County School District has a zero tolerance policy for handguns. All school campuses are gun free zones.
The latest incident at Baldwin County High School hits close to home. The handgun was found after a parent alerted school officials at BCHS there might be a gun in a back pack. It was not loaded and bullets were found elsewhere inside the backpack. The firearm was never exposed to anybody.
"Fortunately we didn't have anybody hurt, there were no threats made which is a positive thing," said Baldwin County School Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee.
The two students, both juveniles, were taken into custody and will likely have a tough time getting back in school.
"What we do is we suspend a student who brings a weapon and then we consider whether or not there's an expulsion involved and I'll be involved in that decision along with the principal. We will look at the past history and behavior on the part of the student and we will look at the reason they had that weapon at school, " said Lee.
It's about zero tolerance for guns or any weapon on a school campus.
"And I can't emphasize enough the way that most of these issues get resolved safely is when somebody calls law enforcement, " said Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Mack Jr.
In light of the latest incidents involving guns at schools both local and nationwide, the argument over the effectiveness of gun free zones has become a topic for debate. Criminals know they won't be confronted in a gun free zone.
"All the problem seems to happen in a gun free zone. Places where they can't have guns. Its seems that where there's guns in places they don't try that. They know there's fear of I can't do what I want to, " said Loxley gun shop owner Roger Lowell.
The Sheriff reminds us why schools are gun free zones. It goes much further than just being a deterrent to violence.
" A gun free zone has two things. Number one, is to let the public know they should not have a gun. But number two it has a judicial effect to it whereby if you do do this then you might face a more severe or harsher punishment, " said Mack.
