Guns at Harlan School

 

The natives are restless at Harlan Elementary School. If you're unfamiliar with that North Florence hall of learning, the school houses the first through fifth grades, meaning the students would not normally be older than 11.

We've received a packet of information about various problems at Harlan, including alleged guns on campus. One incident concerned an airsoft weapon. Are they harmless?

Here's what one medical source says: 

Airsoft weapons can cause a variety of injuries, ranging from minor welts to more serious eye injuries and internal bleeding. The severity of the injury depends on several factors, including the type of airsoft weapon, the distance from the target, and the type of ammunition used.  

Common injuries from airsoft weapons include:

• Welts and bruises: These are the most common type of injury from airsoft weapons. They are caused by the impact of the BB on the skin.
• Eye injuries: Eye injuries are a serious concern with airsoft weapons. Even small BBs can cause serious damage to the eye, including blindness. It is important to always wear eye protection when using airsoft weapons.  
• Internal bleeding: Internal bleeding can occur if an airsoft BB strikes a vital organ, such as the liver or spleen. This is a serious injury that can be life-threatening.
• Broken bones: Broken bones can occur if an airsoft BB strikes a bone with enough force. This is more likely to happen with high-powered airsoft weapons.
• Dental injuries: Dental injuries can occur if an airsoft BB strikes the teeth. This can cause chipped or broken teeth.  

In addition to the physical injuries listed above, airsoft weapons can also cause psychological harm. People who are shot with airsoft weapons may experience fear, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here is a quote attributed to a Harlan administer (we've redacted the name at this time):

A loaded gun was on Harlan campus for 4 days straight in a child's backpack - once found student was not disciplined per policy and law - per XXXX’s word for word statement: “a bb gun is not considered a gun because it can’t kill you”

*student was back on campus in time to take state testing because he was a high scorer*

We'll be looking at this information concerning not only student behavior, but also the resulting staff abandonment of Harlan in upcoming blogs. If you're a Harlan parent and have complaints or insights into these problems, we want to hear from you.