National Interscholastic Athletics Safety & Security Summit strives for better practices

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Law enforcement and school officials around the country were at USM's Trent Lott Center Tuesday discussing ways that can help enhance safety and security issues at sporting events.

Facilitator, Amy Skeens-Benton said, "Our number one job is to keep our kids safe. If you ask anyone would they care more about their kids test scores or their kids safety, they would say safety. So, just because school ends at 3 o'clock doesn't mean that the school day really ends. We still have activities and things going on sometimes 'til 9 or 10 o'clock at night. And, to make sure those kids are safe and what they're doing is just as important."

President of the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officials, Ian Moffett said there has been a bit of an uptick in incidents in recent years.

"We have rival gang members, people who have beef with each other that are bringing guns into our area. We don't know who's coming on to our campuses or coming on to our stadiums. So, we need to do a better job of securing it," said Moffett.

Moffett said having metal detections at every sporting event in the country will help with sports safety and security.