THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 30, 1994 TAG: 9410300063
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Although four guns have been confiscated from teenagers in the Salem High School parking lot during the past couple of weeks, a group of 13 students at the school say they aren't afraid.
More pressing concerns, the students said, are that weapons and fighting have become commonplace in many schools - not just Salem - and that no one is doing enough to address the societal problems that make it that way.
Even though most of the students said they believe many more guns are present at the school than have been discovered, even though most were sure many students carry other types of weapons such as knives, and even though most were alarmed by the way fights can ignite from just a stray glance at the wrong person, violence is not on students' minds every day as they head for class.
The 13 students were interviewed during a discussion Thursday afternoon.
``I feel safer in this school than I have in any other school,'' said Richard Gallop, 17, a junior. ``I have seen two guns since I've been going to this school, and I've never seen a shot fired and I haven't seen anybody with the intent to fire.
``It bothers me, but it will always be there. You know, if I'm powerless over something, I've got to let it go. And that is something I'm powerless over. I can't stop the guns from being there, but I can be in a place where I feel safer than being in another school where I know people will take a shot. I know there are a lot more guns in other schools. I know people that sell them in other schools. I know people sell them in Salem, but not as often.''
``It's not everybody,'' said Amy Doll, 17, a senior. ``A lot of it depends upon the people you hang out with. . . . The friends I hang out with don't carry guns, so I feel pretty safe. And even around people that do, I know that they're not going to pull a gun out in school or pull a knife out in school. They don't have any reason to.''
The students disagreed over what measures schools should take to control students' behavior, and how much responsibility educators bear for addressing the root causes
of teenage delinquency and violence.
Salem officials took a deterrent approach this week, using police and security guards to screen cars, visitors and students who stayed after school for activities.
Melissa Laurie, 15, a sophomore, said the show of force was excessive. ``I feel like I'm going to a prison. What next? Are they going to put metal detectors there?''
Drew Moss, 17, a senior, had a different perspective.
``While I'm getting an education, I want to be safe,'' he said. ``If it takes a cop to be there and enforce the laws, then I want to have a safe education . . . if that's what it takes to get the guns and violence out of our schools.''
``It's teaching us that the only way to control us is to have cops there,'' Melissa said. ``It's teaching us that we have no self-discipline. It's teaching us that we don't know right from wrong. And we do.''
Students also were troubled about the message that recent events were sending about Salem High. All said they believe Salem is as safe, if not safer, than other area high schools.
``How much has come because we're told, `You're at Salem. You're at a bad school'?'' Melissa asked. ``How much of that is because everyone has crammed that down our throats?''
``It's negative media hype,'' said Angie Davis, 15, a sophomore.
``People across the area now think that we're a big, bad school,'' Amy said. `` `Oh, you're from Salem. Aren't you afraid to go to school?' '' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Jenny Stromann, 16: It's kind of sad. I was walking home from
school and I saw the cops sitting there frisking this guy who was
driving to school to pick up somebody.
Why kids bring guns to school
Richard Gallop, 17: Because of ignorant people that decide they
want to prove something.
John Gomez, 18: It's from a person getting threatened or
something, and they want to feel safe so they bring a gun. Or maybe
they want to show off and say, ``Hey, I'm being bad and I'm a gang
member.''
Dawn Addison, 15: Some people don't fit in with other people and
they want to be a little bit cooler . . .
The source of the problem
Amy Doll, 17: Violence is growing in our society and now its
hitting our schools more. A lot has to do with break down of the
family in the beginning.
Liesel Caten, 16: It starts in the homes. It starts with the
break down in the home and then . . . it's everywhere. It will
eventually hit all the schools. It just happens that it hit Salem
first.
Chris Gaffrey, 16: . . . It is a problem with American society
itself.
KEYWORDS: HANDGUNS WEAPONS SCHOOLS by CNB