The weapons detection industry operates in what some in the security industry call a “wild west” – where school districts and other organizations make rapid, often uninformed decisions about student and individual safety. These choices carry enormous weight: since 2020, school shootings have claimed over 200 lives and injured more than 600 individuals.
Exposing Critical Security Gaps
Recent investigations reveal alarming vulnerabilities in widely deployed screening systems. Independent field tests expose significant detection failures that should concern every educational institution. Testing data shows many current systems miss concealed weapons and demonstrate high false-positive rates, creating an illusion of security while potentially missing genuine threats.
Recent investigations reveal concerning vulnerabilities in widely deployed screening systems. Analysis of industry data highlights a significant detection problem: with over 1 billion annual screenings and only 400,000 weapons detected, current systems are identifying less than 0.4% of potential threats. Given that 37% of the US population owns firearms and there are 22 million licensed carriers, even if only 10% of gun owners carry to events, that suggests roughly 100 million armed individuals among those billion screenings. This stark disparity between detected weapons and probable carry rates indicates many screening systems may be missing significant numbers of weapons, creating a false sense of security while failing to identify genuine threats.
The Cost of Inadequate Standards
Market research firm Omdia estimates annual school security spending at $3 billion. However, Rutgers University professor Daniel Semenza notes minimal evidence supporting these investments’ effectiveness. Schools purchase sophisticated systems, some costing tens of thousands annually, without clear standards to evaluate their performance.
The Department of Homeland Security’s current approach compounds these challenges. While DHS provides Safety Act designation for security screening devices, they don’t independently test these systems. Instead, they rely on data submitted by the companies themselves – a process lacking the rigorous third-party validation needed for critical safety technology.
Transforming Security Through Innovation
Xtract One Technologies recognized these industry shortcomings early. Our Xtract One Gateway emerged from understanding how existing solutions force schools to modify their operations around technical limitations. Traditional systems market the ability to screen individuals with laptops and backpacks, yet require students to hold items overhead or submit to secondary inspections – creating new vulnerabilities while slowing the screening process.
The digital transformation of education introduces additional complexities. Students now carry laptops, smartphones, and various electronic devices daily. Conventional screening methods struggle with this new reality, often unable to differentiate between harmless personal items and potential threats. Some schools have resorted to banning common items like three-ring binders to accommodate system limitations – an approach that disrupts education rather than enhances security.
Many attempted solutions through supplemental X-ray machines may create more problems than they solve. In addition to the added costs of more equipment and increased staffing requirements, this approach doubles system footprints and introduces potential interference between screening technologies. Most critically, it transforms school entrances into airport-style security checkpoints, fundamentally altering the educational environment.
ASIS, the American Society for Industrial Security, is developing ‘The ASIS International School Security Standard’ and represents meaningful progress toward needed regulation. Developed by over 50 industry experts, this proposed American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard integrates insights from school administration, security, mental health, and emergency management professionals. It provides a framework for comprehensive security assessment and implementation that maintains the fundamental character of educational spaces while ensuring effective threat detection.
The Gateway to Intelligent Security
The Xtract One Gateway represents a fundamental shift in weapons detection philosophy. Our advanced AI and proprietary sensors enable true object classification, distinguishing harmless items from potential threats. This eliminates the need for disruptive screening procedures that separate students from their belongings or require them to modify their natural behavior.
Our system excels in environments with medium-volume personal belongings, processing up to 3,000 screenings per hour while maintaining superior detection capabilities. This throughput maintains natural movement flow – essential for educational environments where swift, efficient entry can mean the difference between disrupted and productive learning time.
Setting New Industry Standards
Xtract One’s approach is beyond conventional screening limitations. The Gateway system integrates comprehensive security features into a single platform, eliminating the complexity and interference issues associated with multiple-device solutions. Security personnel can maintain focus on people rather than equipment, with movable displays that enable efficient monitoring without compromising awareness.
Schools using Gateway maintain their educational atmosphere while achieving superior security outcomes. Students move naturally through entry points with their belongings, preserving both dignity and safety. This human-centric design demonstrates how technological innovation can enhance security without creating fortress-like environments.
The Gateway system’s versatility extends beyond technological capabilities. Its design allows seamless integration into existing spaces without major renovations or increased square footage requirements. This adaptability proves particularly valuable for schools working within strict spatial and budgetary constraints.
For educational institutions navigating the complex landscape of security technology, the path forward requires solutions that balance comprehensive protection with operational efficiency. Xtract One’s continued innovation in AI-powered detection technology establishes new benchmarks for industry performance while advocating for stringent testing standards and transparent evaluation criteria.
Moving the Industry Forward
Educational institutions need more than promises – they need proven, validated solutions that protect students without compromising the learning environment. The establishment of the ASIS International School Security Standard marks an essential first step. This framework, combined with rigorous testing protocols and transparent performance metrics, will help schools make informed decisions about security investments.
Xtract One Technologies continues to drive innovation in weapons detection through advanced AI development and real-world implementation. Our commitment extends beyond technology to advocating for industry-wide standards that ensure all security solutions meet the highest performance benchmarks.
The message remains clear: educational security requires sophisticated solutions backed by verifiable standards. Through continued technological advancement and industry leadership, we work to establish a new paradigm where effective security enhances rather than impedes the educational mission.