London Gang Violence Prompts Stab- and Bullet-Proof Vests

As schools become more infested with gang violence and gang members themselves, school administrators have began thinking outside of the box to combat these young delinquents from bringing their violent habits onto the campuses. While some may believe that teachers, of all people, would think it ludicrous for students to bring weapons to school, teachers across the nation have admitted to thinking that the idea is a rather smart move in case the students are put in an unfavorable situation and need to defend themselves. One student was even quoted to have stated that he would “rather be arrested [for carrying a knife] than dead.”

Other students who aren’t quite fond of carrying weapons of their own have turned to wearing stab- and bullet-proof vests into the hallways of their very own education facilities. Some researchers have found students as young as ten years old to have asked for the body armor; some wear the vests out of fear, while others wear them as badges of honor. Even students not involved in any sort of gang activities often times find themselves in skirmishes. One student explained that one day he had argued with another boy over the likes of a female student and, having two friends of his own that had been stabbed, began to wear a protective vest. He claims not be in any gangs, but he wants to feel safe because there are threats everywhere.

Not everyone who wears a vest is in danger; some wear them as fashion accessories or to look important. Students as young as ten years old have gone into the shop to buy a vest, and when he was refused one, he returned with his parents. After this incident, the owner of the shop was not surprised by anything again.

Schools had adopted a zero tolerance policy for weapons; however, this policy did not do any good. Children still continued to carry weapons to and from school, fearing that threats would be made true. When children were caught at school with weapons and expelled from school, it was allowing them to spend more time with gangs rather than away from gangs. Children as young as nine years old are being recruited into these gangs, and school officials along with students are not quite sure how to combat this, so in the meantime, numerous children are resorting to wearing vests and carrying weapons themselves in case they are attacked.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1512623/Frightened-pupil-wears-stab-proof-vest-to-school.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5548728.ece