On November 2, 2021, a teenager was shot and killed in Corpus Christi, TX, following a school lockdown after he reportedly brought a gun to school. Aransas Pass High School went into lockdown mode, and a middle and elementary school went on lockout, meaning that no one could enter from the outside. Fortunately, no other children were injured.

In October 2021, police responded to an Arlington, TX, high school shooting that left four people injured. One student underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care. All four victims survived. The shooter was an 18-year-old student at Timberview High School.

Throughout the country, in 2021, there were at least 144 incidents of school gunfire, leading to 28 deaths and 86 injuries. A shooting on November 30 at an Oxford High School in Michigan left seven people injured and four people dead. The shooter was a 15-year-old sophomore who fired at students using a semi-automatic handgun.

These shootings, of course, aren’t just happening in schools. Overall, in 2020, more than 600 mass shootings, defined as situations where four or more people were injured or killed, occurred in 2020.  

Because of these and other tragic events, schools and businesses around the country are taking action to help mitigate gun violence. One of these actions includes installing a gunshot detection system.

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What Are Gunshot Detectors?

Gunshot detectors are large acoustic sensors programmed to recognize the sound of a bullet. Once a gun is fired, the systems infrared cameras and microphones activate. Multiple sensors pinpoint the location, caliber of the gun, and the number of shooters and bullets fired.

This information is relayed to law enforcement, enabling them to know the situation and location before they arrive, speeding up response times. Smart surveillance cameras can also track the shooter, letting police know if they are still in the area or traveling by foot or car.     

What Are the Benefits of Gunshot Detectors?

The benefits boil down to one goal: Using the latest technology to provide a quick response in the hope of saving lives and reducing injuries in an active shooter event. In addition to providing information to law enforcement, these systems also provide additional security when integrated with other systems.

Access Control: When integrated with access control systems, areas are locked down, preventing access and limiting the scope of a shooter's potential targets.

Mass Notification: When shots are detected, a mass notification system alerts all potentially involved parties, including teachers, staff, and security. They can then take immediate action to protect themselves and others.

Smart Surveillance: Smart security cameras track the shooter’s location. Additionally, many offer license plate and facial recognition.

Protecting Assets

While the most important benefit of utilizing gun detectors is saving lives, they can also reduce property damage and the after-effects of violence. People that are affected often hold the business liable.

For instance, multiple lawsuits with hundreds of plaintiffs held MGM Resorts International responsible for the tragic shooting at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas in 2017.

Their arguments included lax security and the lack of gunfire-location devices. The court agreed to a settlement of $800 million.

Active shooter incidents evolve quickly and are unpredictable. The critical factor in these events is an accurate and rapid response. Security systems such as gunshot detectors, surveillance cameras, mass notification systems, and access control can save lives and reduce injuries. To learn more about these systems or schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Circle Industries today.