Weir High Gives Out Handguns to Students to Protect Against School Shootings

WEIRTON - Following the arrest of a 15-year-old girl for entering the school with a loaded firearm on Wednesday, Hancock County school officials told OVN that they will not let an incident like this threaten the safety of their students. Starting today, students at Weir High will receive their very own sidearm to protect themselves in the event of a school emergency.

"The only thing that can stop a bad student with a gun is a good student with a gun," said Hancock County Superintendent Suzan Smith. "If a crazed student runs into a classroom with 20 kids inside, do you really think one armed teacher is enough to stop him? What do you think the odds are of him lasting long if every student in the room is pointing a gun at him?"

The decision was praised by every single person in Weirton; Smith received exactly 19,746 (equal to the 2010 census) emails showing support for her decision.

"Obviously there will have to be some gun safety classes added to our curriculum," Smith said. "Just this morning a student left school, got locked out and shot the lock off the front door to get back in. We also had an incident where a student could not get a teacher's attention, so she shot her gun into the ceiling."

Smith also mentioned that she predicts the guns to ameliorate the bullying problem at Weir High.

"Usually a student bullies another because he's bigger than they are," she said. "But having a handgun evens the playing field. We won't punish students for simply defending themselves."

She also said that the new program lets the district cut more jobs than originally thought was possible.

"We were able to fire our guidance counselor this morning," Smith said with a smile. "There simply isn't a need for her services anymore."

Students seemed to be excited about the new program when we interviewed them after school.

"I'm so happy that the school board did this," said senior Kelly Bishop. "Now if that slut Danielle makes another move towards my boyfriend she is so going to get it."

Students are allowed to select either the Heckler & Koch USP or the Glock 17, and can choose the color of their gun from either blue, green, red, yellow, pink or 'School Pride' (red and black with school logo) for an extra $5.