Georgia could become the first state to require weapons detection systems in every public school under legislation nearing passage in the state legislature. The bill mandates that all students be checked for weapons when arriving at school each day.

The legislation was prompted by a 2024 school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder that killed four people. "That rifle would have never reached our hallways," said Daria Lezczynska, a junior at Apalachee High School. "Lives would have been saved. Families would not be grieving."

Republican House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, who represents the Apalachee campus and sponsors the bill, argued that students deserve similar security to what exists in courthouses. "Georgia's students and educators deserve similar security with weapons detection systems inside of every Georgia public school," Efstration said.

A Senate committee passed an amended version of the bill on Monday, requiring final votes in both chambers before reaching Governor Brian Kemp's desk. The technology uses computer analysis with cameras or electromagnetic fields to detect weapons, representing a newer generation beyond traditional metal detectors.

Currently, few schools nationwide require daily weapons checks. A U.S. Department of Education survey found that only 2.4% of all schools and 6.2% of high schools required daily metal detector checks in the 2021-2022 school year. Atlanta's school district reported a decrease in guns found at schools after implementing new detection systems in 2021.

The proposal faces significant cost and implementation challenges. Each detection system can cost $10,000 or more, and Georgia allocates only $50,000 annually per school campus for safety measures. House budget writers have proposed borrowing an additional $50 million for grants to districts.

Critics question the effectiveness and necessity of the mandate. Some Democrats argue the focus should be on limiting children's access to guns rather than accepting widespread weapons detection as necessary. Security experts also note challenges with false alarms potentially dulling staff vigilance and the lack of rigorous research proving that weapons detectors prevent school shootings.