Home / Technology / Can Drones Stop School Shootings? Schools Test New Tech
Can Drones Stop School Shootings? Schools Test New Tech
26 Sep
Summary
- Drones can deter, distract, and incapacitate attackers with sirens and pepper gel.
- Some schools in Colorado, Florida, and Georgia are piloting this drone program.
- Experts question the technology's cost-effectiveness and practicality.
A new initiative, the Campus Guardian Angel pilot program, is set to deploy drones in select U.S. schools to enhance security against mass shootings. This program involves schools in Colorado, Florida, and Georgia, with drones designed by Mithril Defense. These drones are equipped with sirens, strobe lights, and pepper gel, and can also ram threats at speeds up to 60 mph.
The system allows school staff to remotely launch drones via an app or panic button, with pilots aiming to locate threats within 15 seconds. While company CEO Justin Marston believes this offers a faster response than law enforcement, school safety experts like Michael Dorn and Kenneth Trump have voiced skepticism regarding the technology's practicality and cost-effectiveness.
Florida has authorized the pilot program for three districts, and Georgia has appropriated $550,000 for five schools. However, some schools have not yet implemented or authorized specific drone capabilities, such as pepper spray deployment. The program aims for broader adoption, with plans to expand to several other states by the end of the year.
Proponents compare the potential ubiquity of these drones to fire suppression systems, predicting widespread adoption within five years. Despite potential limitations like inability to breach certain barriers and the risk of drones being shot down, the company emphasizes their non-lethal approach. Researchers are seeking federal funding to study the drones' efficacy, as they have not yet been deployed during an actual school shooting incident.
