Parents, staff react after gun-related incident interrupts kindergarten recess at Atlanta school

ATLANTA, Ga. (CBS46) – Two gun-related incidents in a single week at an Atlanta college have prompted dad and mom and faculty directors to talk out.

Wesley Worldwide Academy acquired stories of an individual with an assault-style weapon on the road subsequent to the college’s playground throughout kindergarten recess Tuesday. Faculty useful resource officers acted shortly to make sure all youngsters had been secure.

The incident occurred 4 days after a police chase ended with weapons drawn within the college’s parking zone.

Dad and mom, like Latandra Johnson with a godson on the college, mentioned she prays every day for youngsters throughout Atlanta.

“Gunshots can ring out wherever. You recognize individuals are irresponsible,” mentioned Johnson.

Jason Marshall, Government Director at Wesley Worldwide Academy, mentioned a brand new state coverage performs a task in these kind of incidents: Georgia’s new constitutional carry act.

Whereas firearms are prohibited from college security zones, Marshall mentioned the laws creates “an unlucky, if unintended affect on Georgia’s college youngsters and educators.”

“Legal guidelines like these enacted by Senate Invoice 319 make it harder to guard the youngsters and workers in our colleges as a result of they embolden individuals to entry and carry weapons with out limiting their potential to hold lethal weapons close to locations the place youngsters collect,” defined Marshall.

Some dad and mom shared related issues.

“It’s the best way the world we reside in at present – it’s not a secure place, particularly with the state of Georgia opening up to have the ability to carry weapons with out correct coaching,” mentioned Johnson.

Carrying a firearm in class security zones isn’t authorized underneath Georgia legislation, even underneath the state’s constitutional carry legislation. When the laws was handed in April, Governor Brian Kemp mentioned law-abiding Georgians deserve to make sure they will defend themselves and their households.

Dad and mom and faculty directors emphasised gun security round colleges is an issue throughout the metro – not simply at Wesley Worldwide Academy.

Aaliyah Robust, a mom on the college, mentioned she had heard from different dad and mom who shared frustrations.

“It’s each college in Atlanta. We have to take safety extra severely,” mentioned Robust.

Robust advocated for improved safety measures in colleges, higher coaching for directors and officers on campus, and extra counselors who’re attentive to college students.

“Kids don’t have the capability to specific themselves the best way we will,” she defined. “I really need principals, police males in colleges, dad and mom – everybody must work collectively collectively so everybody will be OK.”

Robust additionally mentioned dad and mom ought to be conscious about how they convey with their youngsters; whether or not asking about their day or sharing robust conversations about gun violence.

“I make it my level as a mother to ask, ‘how was college at present? Did something occur to scare you?’’ she mentioned.

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