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Whit Johnson ReportingPolice say that stopping a school shooting before it happens lies largely in the hands of the students nowadays, and it appears they are rising to the challenge.
The weapon found at Kearns High School here yesterday was reported by another student and schools are hoping to see much more of that.
The Granite School District has created posters and a weapons hotline so students can make a confidential call and be the first line of defense.
School shootings happened many times before—most recently in Colorado, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania--and their images can have haunting effects on students.
Student Karen White: "I think it's still kind of scary to know that your classmates are still bringing weapons to school."
Student Vanessa Vasquez: "I just wouldn't feel comfortable with someone having a weapon at school because then they could hurt somebody or they could even hurt me."
Student Nancy Valencia: "If it's one of your friends it doesn't matter just go ahead and tell."
Student Jordan Poulsen: "Well you look at it, you can either risk getting shot or go tell. It's not really hard to decide which one is easier to do."
But it seems students now are taking a stand for their own safety.
Police Chief for the Granite School District Randy Johnson says they confiscate weapons on a weakly basis and other students are making the reports. "This is not ratting, or it's not finking, it is helping ensure their safety and their other friends at the school. Very important it's like neighborhood watch."
A few weeks ago a student was arrested for having a gun at Highland High School. Last Friday it was Morgan High. Then yesterday a 17-year-old brought a pellet gun to Kearns High.
In every incident an uninvolved student reported the weapon.
A recent federal study shows in 80 percent of school shootings at least one uninvolved student knew of the plan. In 50 percent of the shootings, at least two students knew.
Chief Randy Johnson, Granite School District Police: "Columbine changed the landscape for law enforcement in the schools...They can see on the faces of those kids there--the fear, the terror, the upset--and they can relate to that."
Johnson says the key is communication between teachers, law enforcement and students.
