The last thing any parent or school official wants to think about is school shooters. Sadly, in today’s world, these horrifying incidents are a very real thing that many have had to deal with. And while gun reform remains a hot topic on both sides of the political aisle, there’s a company looking for a creative way to give people a bit more peace of mind when their loved ones are at school.
According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, that means arming school buildings with pepper-spraying drones. The drone in question is called Campus Guardian Angel, and it’s being deployed to select classrooms across the U.S. These aircraft are made by an Austin-based company, Mithril Defense, and are expected to be launched by teachers and staff during emergencies.
However, not everyone is in love with the idea. Several parents spoke to ABC News about the drones, saying they don’t want these contraptions in the school with their children.
Other critics question how effective these drones are, especially if intruders come armed with gas masks.
The Drones Offer Multiple Lines of Defense
According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, the hi-tech drones will defend schools using several methods, including loud sirens, flashing strobe lights, and spraying a pepper gel. They are also able to ram a suspect at a speed of 50 miles-per-hour.
These drones are designed to be stored at the school, and in a demonstration video they appear to be stashed away in cubbies when not in use. Then, when they are remotely activated, they can take off and head to the source of the threat.
Nine Schools Already Have These Drones in Place
The drones are already set up for nine unidentified school located in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado.
While the staff in these locations are the ones who are supposed to trigger the drones, they will be remotely operated by employees of Mithril Defense in Texas. That means they will be relying on remote pilots from states away. This, among other things, has some parents concerned.
“These are our tender babies, and they are now going to have to be in a place where there are drones flying around,” concerned parent Kim Carroll said in an interview.
People Are Critical of the Effectiveness of the Drones
While some parents are worried about the danger these drones could pose to their children in the classroom, those on the ABC World News Now Facebook page just can’t see how these drones will be able to take out armed gunmen.
“Why wouldn’t they just shoot the drone,” one person asked.
Another person wanted to know who was going to open the doors to let the drones into the room where the shooter was located.
“And what if the shooter is wearing a scuba mask,” yet another person asked.
While it’s clear that there’s still some questions to be answered when it comes to whether this is a viable option to keep students safe, it does highlight a growing demand for alternative ways to defend school students against these kinds of threats.