Senath student brings gun to school to show friend, suspended

Sunday, May 17, 2009
Joshua Payne Daily Dunklin Democrat

On Wednesday, an elementary student at Senath-Hornersville Elementary brought a gun to school.

The gun was a bb gun that the student had brought from his home, according to Senath Chief of Police Omar Karnes. When asked about the gun, the student in question said he brought it to show to a friend, Karnes noted.

The student informed Karnes that the friend had brought his aerosol gun to school the previous week.

"He knew he was in the wrong for bringing the gun, because he tried to hide it in his back pack and became nervous when the teacher searched the students' back packs," Karnes said.

The teacher searched each of the students' back packs following several students informing her that a back pack contained a gun, added Karnes.

The search took place in the afternoon when the buses arrived for students to return home, according to Senath-Hornersville Superintendent, Larry Woods.

Once the gun was discovered, the student and his back pack were transported to the elementary principal's office and then directed to the superintendent's office, according to Karnes.

As a result, the student was suspended from school for three days, Woods noted.

"We will be checking back packs at school to insure student safety," Woods said in response to the incident. "We will also be looking to incorporate education programs regarding gun safety."

Woods added that he had contacted the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office about incorporating this type of program in the school.

Comments

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I'm glad this wasn't like it was back in 1986. I was there (at school) when the incident happened. I feel there should be gun safety classes in every school in light of all the incidences of tragedies happening on school/college campuses.

-- Posted by mcoram on Sun, May 17, 2009, at 8:02 AM

we need metal detectors.

A kid with a BB gun can kill someone just as well as a real gun.

-- Posted by sj83 on Sun, May 17, 2009, at 10:45 AM

I agree, I live in Senath near the school, I am sure this child simply hasnt been taught about gun safety and wanted to impress his friends with his new "toy". I am also assuming that his mother and father wasnt aware that he was taking it to school either, however I think that his mom or dad should have checked his backpack prior to leaving for school if nothing else to make sure he didnt forget anything. I am just assuming this was a young child being in elementary school? I think this child is lucky that he wasnt sent home for longer than 3 days. Although this was a "BB" gun, they to can be very dangerous, as a child I was accidentally shot with one and it entered the skin easily! I am not shocked that something like this slipped through and wasnt found until the day was almost over, Our teacher's are tasked with alot these days and I am sure it was the last thing on His/Her mind to check for a firearm in a childs backpack. Senath-Hornersville is an amazing school district however its time to realize we are not living in the 50's any longer and start taking this kind of thing serious.

-- Posted by smalltownguy on Sun, May 17, 2009, at 12:33 PM

well if the friend informed omar that the week before the same child brought an aerosol gun to school and the next week another gun hummm looks like someone should be checking on the family that isnt paying to much attention in home surroundings for a child that young to be able to have access to 2 different guns in week time well after the 3 day suspention whats next weeks show and tell a 357 loaded parents need to wake up and everyone knows little kids want to play cops and robbers or pretend they are jesse james so to me this is a bit worry some not all parents check backpacks physically everyday alot of parents dont want are children to feel babied so we may say do you have your math homework ,, check do you have your folder .. check but in this case 2 xs in a week somebody should be checking somewheres in that home parents are responsible for that and hey how much more of a lightbulb has to go off in that home before someone there or in public is hurt i hope the best and parents wake up and take it serious cause it is serious hate to read next week elem. student accidently shot child too sad of a thought in such a small town

-- Posted by ocean on Tue, May 19, 2009, at 2:48 AM