Guns at School: Just Another Week in America

If it feels like there’s been an endless stream of school gun incidents lately, that’s because there has been.

What follows is not a comprehensive list. It’s not even close. These are just the cases that crossed my desk over the course of one single week, last week. No national database. No master alarm bell. Just scattered local news reports, tips, lockdown alerts, and press releases.

And if this many surfaced publicly, you can safely assume just as many, if not more, never made the news at all.

Let’s take a look.

Burien, Washington: Handgun Assault, Lockdown

Highline High School was placed on lockdown after a fight escalated into a handgun assault. No shots were fired, but a student was reportedly pistol-whipped. Three suspects were taken into custody for felony assault. This wasn’t even the school’s first lockdown of the week. Just days earlier, it had locked down because of nearby gunfire.

Fort Mohave, Arizona: Loaded Gun, Threat Against Teacher

At Fort Mohave Elementary, an 8-year-old brought a loaded handgun to school, showed it to classmates, handed it to another student, and allegedly made a threat against a teacher. The situation was defused only because a bystander student reported what they overheard. The boy was arrested on multiple charges. Investigators are still trying to determine how he got the gun.

Fishers, Indiana: Gun in Student’s Vehicle

A tip through the HSE “Report It!” app led police to recover a firearm from a 17-year-old student’s vehicle at Fishers High School. Police said they didn’t believe the student intended harm, but possession of a firearm on school property remains a felony under Indiana law.

Blount County, Tennessee: One Gun, Three Teens Charged

At William Blount High School, a parent alerted police after seeing a photo of a student with a gun tucked into his waistband. The gun turned out to be stolen from a vehicle. By week’s end, three teens were facing charges. One for bringing the weapon, one for burglary and false reporting, and one for failing to report the gun earlier.

Mobile, Alabama: Weapon Detected at Security Checkpoint

At Williamson High School, a weapon detection system flagged a student attempting to enter the building with a .40 caliber handgun in his backpack. The student fled but was apprehended by the school resource officer and arrested. A rare case where the gun didn’t make it past the front door.

Dover, Delaware: Two Handguns Recovered at Student’s Home

An after-the-fact report led Dover police to arrest a 15-year-old who allegedly brought a firearm to Dover High School the previous day. Though the student didn’t have a gun on him at the time of arrest, two handguns were later recovered from his residence.

Salem, Oregon: Gun Found by Metal Detector

At Sprague High School, a metal detector alerted staff to a handgun in a student’s backpack. The gun was immediately confiscated, no lockdown was necessary, and the student was arrested for unlawful possession.

Sandusky, Ohio: Student Removed Without Incident

At the Sandusky Digital Learning Center, administrators alerted police to a possible firearm. Officers quickly located the student and removed both the student and the gun from campus without incident. No lockdown, no injuries, just another example of how quietly these cases can be resolved.

Montgomery County, Maryland: 3D-Printed Ghost Gun After Fight

A fight between two students at Northwood High School led to a lockdown and the arrest of a 17-year-old. Police recovered a loaded 3D-printed firearm from his waistband, a reminder that “ghost guns” aren’t theoretical anymore. This one was already loaded and on a student.

Lake County, Florida: Gun in Lockbox, Two Arrests

At East Ridge High School, officials discovered a firearm secured inside a metal lockbox on campus. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution. Two students were arrested and charged with multiple firearm-related offenses.

Cobb County, Georgia: Gun Left in Middle School Bathroom

Another toilet gun. During a sixth-grade performance at Durham Middle School, a firearm was found in a bathroom. An adult later admitted to accidentally bringing the gun onto campus and leaving it there. Officials said there was no threat, but charges are pending.

Patterson, California: Replica Gun, Real Lockdown

At Patterson High School, a student displayed what turned out to be a replica firearm. The school locked down while deputies investigated. The student had already left campus by the time police arrived but was later located at home and arrested on felony and misdemeanor threat charges.

***

Again, this was one week. Not a spike. Not an anomaly. Not a special roundup.

Just the incidents that happened to get reported, written up, and noticed.

For every case above, there’s likely another one resolved quietly. Or ignored. Or dismissed as a “poor decision.” Or chalked up as “no intent.”

But the pattern doesn’t care about intent.

Guns keep finding their way into schools. Week after week. Town after town.

And until that reality is taken seriously, beyond press conferences and slogans, this list will keep writing itself.

(Sources)