High school students in Montgomery County, Maryland will receive a lesson on keeping their schools and students safe at a school assembly this fall. This includes lessons on gun education.

Public schools, state attorney’s offices, and police departments in Montgomery County provide information on the law and consequences, strategies for solving problems without the use of weapons or violence, and the importance of being vigilant about guns. Other things students learn include recognizing the signs that someone might choose violence and calling an anonymous hotline.

When these topics are scheduled they will be shared with the school community, and families can choose to opt their child out of these lessons.

“Thank you for your continued partnership with MCPS. As parents, guardians and caregivers, please repeat these messages at home.

Before the school year began, McKnight called for a campaign to “educate young people about gun prevalence, gun laws, and the effects of guns.”

The “impact of guns” on communities, youth and schools, and the “national rise and grave danger” of guns, were cited as reasons for partnerships between schools and state attorneys’ offices for these legislatures. was given.

The Gun Violence Archive reports that the number of teens killed by guns has doubled since 2014. Montgomery County has seized 790 illegal guns this year since last month, a nearly 75% increase since 2020, the letter said.

In January, one student was shot dead and another was detained in a shooting incident at Magruder High School. This is the first time a school shooting has taken place on campus.

There have been other gun-related incidents at schools in Montgomery County. A week before his Magruder High School shooting incident, a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged after he brought a gun to Wheaton High School. In April, high and middle schools were shut down after reports of students carrying guns.

It is illegal to own a firearm before the age of 21. If you are over 16 and found to have a gun, you will be charged as an adult.

A new memorandum of understanding between Montgomery County schools and the county police was approved in April before the school year began. Under this memorandum, the school now has a Community Engagement Officer with access to office space within the school building. stay at school.

The school system also reminds students that basically no weapons of any kind can be brought into the MCPS school.

“Students found in possession of guns or other weapons may be subject to serious disciplinary action consistent with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct and may violate local, state and federal laws. there is.”

Follow WTOP like WTOP on Facebook twitter and Instagram where you can have a conversation about this and other articles.

Sign up here to get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox.

© 2022 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users residing within the European Economic Area.