'Something needs to be done,' Harnett County Schools considering adding weapon detection systems to schools

Harnett County Schools are considering adding weapons detection systems in their schools after a string of social media threat against schools in surrounding counties.

Schools across the state are spending millions in school security, ranging anywhere form added police presence to high-tech weapon detections systems.

Bonita Ragland, who's daughter attends school in Harnett County, said schools in the area need to address the issue as soon as possible.

At elementary school in Harnett County, middle schools in Cumberland and Orange, students found with weapons Friday

"School is supposed to be a safe zone for our kids," Ragland said. "If kids keep bringing weapons, something is going to have to be done to nip [this] in the bud."

Last week, a student at an elementary school in Harnett County brought a loaded gun to school. Guns were found on school properties at various other schools in Orange and Cumberland counties as well.

Harnett County is the the latest to discuss adding extra security in their schools, joining Wake County. Security upgrades are already in process in Granville, Johnston and Person County schools.

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"Whether it's metal detectors, searching them or whatever, something needs to be done." Ragland said.

The rush to spend millions on school security has some experts concerned, including Donald Maye, who extensively examines security tech.

"Parents and School Officials should be very wary of spending millions of dollars on these systems without fully understanding what they can or cannot do," Maye said. "Weapons, such as guns and knives, can be missed by the system."

Jaclyn Schildkraut, of the Regional Gun Violence Consortium, said tip alerts have a huge impact on campuses.

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"If you're trying to prevent violence in the first place, the main reason it doesn't happen is some one with information comes forward," Schildkraut said.

Harnett County School Board will receive a presentation on weapons detection system March 6.