Last Friday, Central Hardin temporarily installed weapon detectors outside of all school entrances/exits for students to walk through.

Most of the student body was surprised and annoyed by this. It seemed to be an inconvenience to most because each student was asked to take out their Chromebooks and three-ring binder in order to pass through the system without it going off.

Opposed to contrary belief that they were installed that day to take away our rights and strip us of being Americans, they were actually here for the company’s sake.

The company “Evolv” wanted to install these devices to determine if their technology could handle the amount of people that are at this school. The Hardin County district also wanted to know this information as well, to make a future decision on whether they will be installed at schools in the Hardin County School District at a later time.

According to Mr.Isaacs, the technology uses AI to detect weapons, metal, and any other dangerous or harmful objects that could be brought into the school.

It essentially looks for shapes. That is why students were instructed to take Chromebooks and three-ring binders out; the technology could mistake the spine of those objects for a gun. In fact, the technology is so advanced that it can detect pieces of a weapon and not just the weapon itself.

For instance, if someone tries to take apart a gun and place the different pieces throughout their clothes and/or bag, it can detect that and sound its alarm.

   It is unknown at the moment whether this technology will ever be installed or not. Size and cost factors will have to be elements the district must decide on. If this technology does get placed in the school, it will be at every door (entrance/exit), including gate entries.