PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Many parents and community members were left wondering how Rhode Island and Massachusetts keep students safe following Wednesday’s devastating school shooting in Georgia .
A 14-year-old is accused of opening fire with an assault-style rifle at a Georgia high school, killing two students and two teachers and injuring at least nine others.
According to the Gun Violence Archive , a mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter.
Wednesday’s incident is one of over 385 mass shootings that have occurred in the United States just this year, adding to the nearly 523,000 shootings nationwide in the last decade.
State laws for school safety
Rhode Island
State law requires schools to have detailed safety and emergency response plans that address prevention , preparedness , response and recovery .
Schools develop these plans based on a 300-page model from the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE), which was created after incidents in schools. Each plan can be customized for individual districts but must include evacuation routes, shelter sites, and medical procedures for serious violent incidents.
At least four emergency exit drills or rapid dismissals must take place per school year — two each semester — as well as two evacuation and two lockdown drills each year.
Each school district in Rhode Island must conduct a safety assessment of all campuses every three years, in collaboration with local police and fire departments.
Each district superintendent is required to establish a threat assessment team for every school made up of experts in counseling, mental health, law enforcement, and school administration. These teams help students and staff recognize and report threatening behavior and ensure school safety policies are followed.
Additionally, Gov. McKee signed the Safe Storage of Firearms legislation in June, mandating that firearms be stored in locked containers or equipped with a tamper-resistant lock when not in use. Violations of this law are considered civil offenses. A first offense would result in a $250 fine, then $1,000 for the next time, and any further violations would be an additional $500 fine or half a year in prison.
READ MORE: McKee signs safe firearm storage bill into law Massachusetts
Under Massachusetts state law, school districts are required to develop and submit a “ safe and supportive schools framework ” based on the model provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
State law also requires each commonwealth to have a specific plan for dealing with medical and behavioral health emergencies , including protocols for informing parents and guardians when “police, emergency medical technicians or other non-behavioral health personnel are contacted to respond to a behavioral health crisis.” These plans must be submitted to the DESE, local police department, and local fire department every three years.
In addition, anyone who sells or furnishes a gun to a person under the age of 18 in Massachusetts is subject to a fine between $1,000 and $10,000, imprisonment, or both.
New technology in schools
As of June, all Attleboro public schools have installed a security system to detect the sound of gunfire.
Marc Furtado, the Attleboro School District’s Controller and Director of Finance, said the technology comprises noise and light sensors.
“The system has the capability through software to identify specifically not only where a shot comes from, but what caliber gun it comes from. So it’s a very precise and specific system,” Furtado told 12 News.
The technology notifies the school and police department, providing crucial information during emergencies.
“Unfortunately, given the reality that you have assault rifles involved in these sorts of things, typically, it’s very beneficial for the police to know what they’re up against,” Furtado said.
Similarly, Pawtucket introduced a mobile defense system into its public schools last year. The interactive system streams live data from schools to 911 dispatchers and first responders, allowing teachers to alert police through a smartphone app.
WATCH: 14-year-old describes scene of Georgia school shooting Mental health
12 News law enforcement analyst Col. Steven O’Donnell emphasized that mental health is a significant factor in incidents like mass shootings.
“These issues don’t just happen in one day,” O’Donnell said. “It wasn’t a response to something that happened yesterday. It’s something that had been building up.”
He stressed the importance of educating young people about how to report any concerning behavior.
“It’s critical that if somebody, no matter what age, hears somebody talking about something like a mass shooting, don’t take it as a joke,” he explained. “With most of these incidents, somebody knew something about it.”
Emily Matthews, a director at R.I. Family Services, highlighted the need for community involvement in fostering honest conversations about mental health and safety.
“It requires all of us, right? It requires each and every one of us to take some ownership in providing that support and help,” Matthews said. “Because the cost is too high.”
For detailed information on the specific measures your school implements, visit the RIDE website (in Rhode Island) or the DESE website (in Massachusetts) and choose your school district.
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