REPORTING ON THE NEW SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGY. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS USING THE OPEN GATE WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM. IT’S THE SAME SYSTEM USED IN HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS HERE IN ANNE ARUNDEL. THEY’LL BE TESTING IT OUT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE KIDS BECAUSE IT’S HAPPENING SO MUCH WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY SCHOOLS IS TESTING OUT A NEW SECURITY SYSTEM. THE PILOT PROGRAM USES AN AI WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM CALLED OPEN GATE. THE SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TRYING OUT FOR UNITS THIS WEEK. THE SYSTEM IS PORTABLE SO THE DISTRICTS CAN MOVE THEM TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OR SPORTING EVENTS. WE’RE GOING TO DO THEM IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS SPRING AND IN THE SUMMER, AND COLLECT ALL THAT INFORMATION, GET FEEDBACK FROM FROM FOLKS WHO YOU KNOW, WHO ENCOUNTER THE SYSTEM, AND THEN WE’LL MAKE SOME MORE DECISIONS ON THE ROLLOUT FROM THERE. IT’S NONINVASIVE AND CONSISTS OF TWO POLES. PEOPLE WALK THROUGH AI TECHNOLOGY CHECKS FOR WEAPONS IN A PERSON’S BAG OR ON THEIR BODY. PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WE SPOKE TO ARE ON BOARD WITH THE TECHNOLOGY. I THINK IT’S A POSITIVE THING BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW WHO’S GOING TO TRY TO ENTER THE SCHOOLS AND WHERE THESE GUYS ARE GETTING ALL THESE WEAPONS. SCHOOLS NOWADAYS, IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY ALMOST. SO WHY NOT PROTECT THEM? BOB MOSER SAYS DURING THE PILOT PHASE, THEY’RE LOOKING FOR ANY PROBLEMS WITH HOW IT WORKS BEFORE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM. THAT’S THE REASON TO TRY IT IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, RIGHT? IN DIFFERENT LIGHTINGS, IN DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE SCHOOL, IN A SCHOOL, OUTSIDE OF A SCHOOL. AND TO COLLECT ALL THAT INFORMATION, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ALSO WELCOMES PAREN
‘Anything to protect the kids’: Anne Arundel County schools piloting AI weapons detection system
Updated: 6:16 PM EDT Apr 21, 2026
Some Anne Arundel County schools will start using AI weapons detectors this week, part of a pilot program that will run through the summer.The school system is using the OPENGATE weapon detection system — the same one used in Harford County schools. The county will be testing the system out over the next several months.”Anything to protect the kids, because it’s happening so much,” said Lawrence Young, a grandparent of an Anne Arundel County Public Schools student.The system will begin trying out four units this week. The system is portable, so they can move them to different schools or sporting events.”We’re going to do them in a variety of situations this spring and in the summer, and collect that information, get feedback from folks who encounter the system, and then we’ll make some more decisions on the rollout from there,” said Bob Mosier, a spokesperson for the school system.The non-invasive system consists of two poles that people walk through. AI technology checks for weapons in their bag or on their body. Many parents and grandparents are on board with the system.”I think it’s a positive thing, because we don’t know who’s going to try to enter the schools, and where these guys are getting all these weapons,” Young said.”Schools nowadays, it happens every day almost, so why not protect them?” said Donovan Bea, a parent.Mosier said during the pilot phase, they are looking for any problems with how it works before expanding the program.”That’s the reason for a pilot, that’s the reason to try it in different situations, in different lighting. In different places around the school, in a school, outside a school, and to collect all that information,” Mosier said.AACPS said it welcomes parents’ feedback on the system.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —
Some Anne Arundel County schools will start using AI weapons detectors this week, part of a pilot program that will run through the summer.
The school system is using the OPENGATE weapon detection system — the same one used in Harford County schools. The county will be testing the system out over the next several months.
“Anything to protect the kids, because it’s happening so much,” said Lawrence Young, a grandparent of an Anne Arundel County Public Schools student.
The system will begin trying out four units this week. The system is portable, so they can move them to different schools or sporting events.
“We’re going to do them in a variety of situations this spring and in the summer, and collect that information, get feedback from folks who encounter the system, and then we’ll make some more decisions on the rollout from there,” said Bob Mosier, a spokesperson for the school system.
The non-invasive system consists of two poles that people walk through. AI technology checks for weapons in their bag or on their body. Many parents and grandparents are on board with the system.
“I think it’s a positive thing, because we don’t know who’s going to try to enter the schools, and where these guys are getting all these weapons,” Young said.
“Schools nowadays, it happens every day almost, so why not protect them?” said Donovan Bea, a parent.
Mosier said during the pilot phase, they are looking for any problems with how it works before expanding the program.
“That’s the reason for a pilot, that’s the reason to try it in different situations, in different lighting. In different places around the school, in a school, outside a school, and to collect all that information,” Mosier said.
AACPS said it welcomes parents’ feedback on the system.