Georgia Schools and the Need for Real Security

We sleep safely at night because of those who stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.

“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us." – George Orwell

This stark truth, articulated by George Orwell, reminds us that our peace and security are not born from passive idealism and hopeful complacency, but from active readiness. It’s a reality we often forget until tragedy strikes close to home. In the wake of the recent school shooting in Barrow County, Georgia, it’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: safety requires strength, vigilance, and, at times, a willingness to act decisively against those who seek to do harm.

This where the conversation on school safety in Georgia needs to go. Our schools have become soft targets for violent actors, operating under the dangerous illusion that “Gun-Free Zone” policies, cameras, silent panic buttons, and school resource officers are effective deterrents and safety measures. The data is clear: 94% of mass shootings occur in gun-free zones, where attackers know they won’t face immediate armed resistance. We owe our children more than empty promises.

Georgia’s school boards must seriously consider implementing two complementary security measures: ZeroEyes, an AI-powered weapon detection system, and a policy allowing properly trained educators to carry concealed firearms. These measures are not about turning schools into fortresses, but about recognizing that peace is maintained not by the absence of force, but by the presence of those willing to defend it.

ZeroEyes is a technological leap forward in school security. This AI-driven system integrates into existing camera networks, detecting weapons in real time and sending alerts and other responses within seconds. It connects directly to 9-1-1 dispatch, providing continuous updates and situational information to school staff and law enforcement, dramatically reducing response times in a crisis.

But technology alone isn’t enough. As Orwell’s quote implies, it’s not just the tools of defense that matter, but the willingness to use them. This is where the topic of arming educators comes into play. The evidence overwhelmingly supports it: in schools where teachers and staff are allowed to carry concealed weapons, not a single mass shooting has occurred. Despite concerns, there have been no accidental deaths, insurance spikes, or misuse in over 20 years of available data.

Dr. John R. Lott, Jr., an economist and a world-recognized expert on guns and crime, has shown that “gun-free zones” are nothing more than criminal empowerment zones. His research indicates that shooters deliberately target these areas, knowing they’ll face little resistance. While many schools have introduced uniformed school resource officers to enhance security, Lott notes a critical flaw: these officers often become the first targets in an attack, as neutralizing them leaves the rest of the school unprotected.

In contrast, having trained and armed staff members, whose identities are unknown to potential attackers, can serve as a powerful deterrent.to would-be attackers who seek defenseless targets. Since 1950, nearly all mass public shootings in the U.S. have occurred in areas where citizens are prohibited from carrying firearms.

Catoosa County offers a snapshot of the debate across Georgia. In 2018, Larry Black, then a Ringgold City Councilman and now Commission Chairman, called for arming teachers, arguing that “the way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” His stance, rooted in his extensive law enforcement experience, faced resistance from then-superintendent Denia Reese. However, with Reese now retired and set to join the school board next year, she recently expressed a willingness to engage in the discussion and hear the evidence.

When I spoke with Larry Black about this issue recently, he reaffirmed his stance, stating that his conviction has only grown stronger. “All school boards need to recognize that times have changed,” he emphasized. Addressing concerns that arming staff could turn schools into something out of a Quentin Tarantino movie, Black stressed that “with comprehensive policies from the outset—such as uniform and regular training for approved personnel by state-certified law enforcement firearms instructors—boards can protect schools from potential threats while addressing the fears often associated with arming educators.”

Meanwhile, in neighboring Walker County, school board member Tina Painter is advocating the school board explore policy options and look at doing what Black has called for in Catoosa. Painter emphasizes rigorous training and psychological evaluations, ensuring that only the most capable and level-headed individuals are entrusted with this responsibility.

“We’re talking about empowering willing and able educators to be hidden sentinels for their schools—defenders who know every hallway and every emergency exit, who can act decisively to protect and save lives before law enforcement even arrives.”

- Tina Painter

Critics will say that arming teachers is extreme, that it turns schools into battlegrounds. But Orwell’s words remind us that security is not found in wishful thinking or naivety; it’s about preparedness. ZeroEyes and a policy to arm educators work hand in glove: one provides early detection and situational awareness, while the other delivers immediate response and protection.

It's worth noting that the Barrow County School board considered a policy to permit armed teachers as recently as 2022 but ultimately chose to continue banning guns. It was a missed opportunity that, in light of recent events, now looks like a grave mistake. Since Georgia passed the law granting school boards the authority to arm staff in 2014, only three out of 180 districts have taken action. That’s less than two percent. It’s a stunning display of inaction in the face of an obvious and ongoing threat.

This isn’t about fearmongering; it’s about acknowledging that “Gun-Free Zones” do nothing to stop a determined shooter and in fact invite them. It’s about the natural right of self-defense and defense of the innocent. Georgia’s school boards have the authority to make these changes, but authority without action is worthless. If we truly believe in protecting our schools and children, we must be willing to defend them with real, effective measures. Implementing ZeroEyes and allowing trained staff to carry concealed weapons isn’t just logical—it’s essential. Because in the end, we sleep safely not because of good intentions, but because we are willing to do what is necessary.

Sources:

• Lott, J. R. (2019). Schools that allow teachers to carry guns are extremely safe: Data on the rate of shootings and accidents in schools that allow teachers to carry. Available at SSRN 3377801. PDF Link

• Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security,

  Committee on the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate December 15, 2022 PDF Link

• Updated information on Mass Public Shootings from 1998 through October 2023 Link

• Lott, John R. and Landes, William M., (2018). Multiple Victim Public Shootings, Bombings, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handgun Laws: Contrasting Private and Public Law Enforcement. University of Chicago Law School, John M. Olin Law & Economics Working Paper No. 73, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=161637

• Lott, J. R. (2022). Concealed carry permit holders across the United States: 2022. Available at SSRN 4279137. PDF Link

• Lott, J. R., & Moody, C. E. (2024). How Does Concealed Carrying of Weapons Affect Violent Crime?. Available at SSRN 4849655. PDF Link

• Moody, Carlisle. (2023). Is There a Policy That Reduces Mass Public Shooting Deaths?. Economics, Law and Policy. 6. p15. 10.22158/elp.v6n2p15. PDF Link

• Michel, C.D. and Moros, Konstadinos (2024). "Restrictions "Our Ancestors Would Never Have Accepted": The Historical Case Against Assault Weapon Bans," Wyoming Law Review: Vol. 24: No. 1, Article 3.

  Available at: https://scholarship.law.uwyo.edu/wlr/vol24/iss1/3

• Halbrook, S. P. (2021). Banning America’s Rifle: An Assault on the Second Amendment?. FEDERALIST SOC’Y REV., 22, 152-152. PDF Link

• Cramer, Clayton E. (2016). Gun Prevalence and Crime Rates: Is There a Relationship? Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2776818

• Compiling Cases where concealed handgun permit holders have stopped likely mass public shootings Link

• The continued false claim that firearms are the leading cause of death for children or teens Link

• With all the concern about assault weapons, how has the share of murders with rifles changed over time? Link

• Report of the Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting

  of the Texas House of Representatives. PDF Link