Tougher rules apparently keeping guns out of schools

Far fewer students in Iowa’s public schools are daring to take weapons to class — or at least fewer are being caught.In the past four school years, the number of students carrying guns, knives and other weapons to school dramatically droppedKathy Slaughter, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Education, says in the past four school years, the number of students caught carrying weapons to class has dropped from 64 to 34 to 27 to 18 cases statewide last school year. Slaughter says school leaders take the issue of weapons very seriously and usually punish offenders with expulsion, at least.Slaughter says Iowa’s law on weapons in schools is more strict than federal laws — as the U-S mandates guns can’t be brought onto school grounds while the state bars all weapons, including knives and “look-alike” weapons. Slaughter says weapon incidents are reported in both rural and urban schools. Last school year, for the first time in several years, there were no reports of any Iowa students bringing in bombs or explosives.mk