Crime Stoppers of Houston is on a mission to understand exactly why students are bringing firearms to school. The organization has launched an initiative, deep-diving into cases throughout Harris County, where individuals have been charged with possession of a gun on school premises. "We want to do the deep dive, we want to ask the difficult questions, and we want to understand why this is happening," Crime Stoppers CEO Rania Mankarious told Click2Houston, "Is it an issue of communities feeling unsafe, where people are bringing weapons, or people feeling the need to protect themselves, or are there mental health issues that are untreated? Kids who are angry, adults who are angry."
The probe has unveiled that since 2022, 83 cases have cropped up involving gun-related charges on school property in Harris County alone. Andy Kahan, the Director of Victim Services for Crime Stoppers, said in a statement obtained by Click2Houston that these incidents span all educational levels, from elementary to college campuses, "There’s no concentrated area, you can’t say that it’s happening in this part of town, it’s happening in this school district; pretty much every school district is represented in one way, or the other," he explained.
This analysis is only scratching the surface, focusing currently on individuals aged 17 or over. However, Kahan is already seeking ways to include juvenile data in the study, aiming to provide a comprehensive picture of the issue. The end goal is to present findings to the state legislature, potentially influencing broader, statewide interventions.
Meanwhile, Governor Greg Abbott has recognized the potential of Crime Stoppers' Safe School Program and is encouraging its expansion across Texas. The program, which has been bolstering school safety since the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, harnesses the power of students as a first line of defense against potential school shootings. Mankarious proclaimed the success of the initiative in a Houston Public Media interview, "This is about making sure not one more student across our city, or state has to go to school in fear." she said.
With plans to begin sharing their proven training with over 130 public safety groups starting this fall, Crime Stoppers of Houston seeks to establish a uniform system of school safety practices. Mankarious hopes that with financial backing from the state or through corporate donations, which would be used to cover the hefty $1.5 million training costs, the program could be offered at no charge to participants. The objective is clear—the organization is paving the way for a more secure future for Texas's children, free from the shadow of school violence.
