Gun Detection Guide: Sound vs Video vs Weapon Screening
Trying to stop mass shootings is an important security objective, with 3 fundamental on-site security techniques being considered, but what are the pros and cons of each type?
In this guide, we examine:
- Using video to detect guns being pulled out by a person
- Using sound to detect guns being fired
- Using electromagnetic radiation to detect people hiding guns inside their clothing or belongings
Each of these techniques has significant weaknesses, and using all three of them together is likely cost prohibitive for even most large organizations. Should an organization use none of them, one or more?
This guide details each technique's advantages, and disadvantages, and how they compare or differ.
Executive *******
***** ************ *** ** **** ** prevent/react ** *** ********, ********* *****-***** gun *********, *****-***** ******* *********, *** physical ******* *********, **** **** *** pros *** **** ** ******** ****, installation **********, *************, ***.
*****, ** ******* *** ***** ************ work *** ******* ***** ********** *** shortcomings ** ******* ******.
Audio-Based ******* *********: **********
************ ********* ******* ********* ******* *** use ******* *******, **** ** *********** and ** *********, ** ****** ****** blast ***/** ****** ***** ***/** ********** percussion *****.
***** ************, ******* ********* ******* ******* with **** *** ********** (****** ***** detection), *** **** ********* *** *****-********** detection **** *** ********** ****** ***** alarm *****.
******* ** *****-***** *** *********, ******* detection ************ ***** ******* *****-**** - the **** **** *** **** *** highlighted ** *** ***** *****:
Audio-Based ******* *********: **********
********* ** *** ************, ******* ********* have * ********* ~**-***** ********* ***** and *** ******* ** ****** ******** even ******* ****-**-*****, ****, ******** * bigger ******** **** **** ***** ************ and *********** ********* ***** ******** *****. Note, *******, **** ** *** ***** to ******* ** ****** ****** (*******/********** halls/classrooms), *** ***** **** ** ******* detectors ** **** ** ***** ******.
******* ********* *** ***** *** ******* (provided *** ******* ***** ******** *****) using **** ******** ** * ***** for *** *******'* ********. **** ********* have * '********** *****' ******* ************ the ******* ****** ** *** **** location.
****** *****-***** *********, ******* ********* **** not ******* * *****-**-***-**** *** ************, which *** ********** ****** *** ***** confirmation ****.
**** **** ************* (******** ***********) ******** alarm ************, *** *** ******* ** not ********** ** ** **** ** this *****, **** ********** ****** ***** ****** *** ****** campuses, ** *** ******** ** ***** business ** **** **** ****** *** not **********. ********, ************* ** ******* to **** ******* *********, *** **** report ********* ********* ********** ******* ******* to ******** *********.
Audio-Based ******* *********: *************
***** *** ******* ********* ******** ****** several ************* **** *** *****-***** ***********, including *** ******** ******, **** ** clear ****** *********, *** ********* ** stop **** **** ******** *** ********, some ******* *** ********** *********** *****.
*** *******, * ******* ********* ****** offers * **** ******* ********* ***** an ***** ** ******* * ******** (compared ** *****-***** *********) ******* *** gun *** ******* *****.
*** ********** ****** ** ***** ********* leads ** ******** *** **** ********** installation ******** ** **** *****-***** ******** and ******** ***********. *** ****** ** daily ********* **** ** ********* ** the *** ****** ****** *** * given ********. *****, **** **** **** gunshot ********* *** ********* ****-**-***** ** cover * ******** **** *****, *******/**********, one ***** **** **** ******* *********.
** *** ***** ****, ***** * separate ***** ** ********, ******* ********* can ******* **** ****** ******** ******** to ******-***** *** *** ** *** sense ** ********.
********-**** ******* ********* (*.*., **** **** don't *** ** ******* ** ****** muzzle *****) *** ***** ** ***** alarms ** **** ******, ******* ** **** ** ****. *******, **** *** *** **** detectors ***** ** *******, ** **** remains ** ** ****.
Gunshot *********: **************
******* ** *****-***** *********, *** ******* cost ** *** ********** ******* ** the **** ** *** **********. ******* detectors *** ********* **** ****** ** a ******** ************ (******* ***** *** hardware *** ******** *****) ** ****** subscription-based. ******* ******** ********* ******* ***'* disclose ***** ***** *******. *******, *** Advantage *** ******* ********* ****** ******** from $*** ******** ** $*,*** *** device ** * ***-**** ********.
******* ************* ** *** ************ ******** of ***** *******, ** *** ****** assess ***** ***** ********* ***** ** most ********* *** ** *** ******** needs ******* ********.
********** ** *********' ****** ** ******** accuracy, ******* ********* ******* ****** ** tested ****** **********. ****** ***** ***** testing ** ********** ***************, *** **** positive ******* (********* ** ****** ********) will ****** ******* ***** ********, * difficult *** ********** *****, ***.
Video-Based *** *********: **********
*****-***** *** ********* ******** **** *** video **** ******** ******* *** **** shape *********** ********** ** ****** ********. Typically, *** ** **** ******* **** can **** ******* ****** ** ******** (e.g., *********, ******** **** * ******, etc.), * ********** *****-**-***-**** ******** **** review *****-***** ****** ** ******** **** to ******* *** ******** ** *** alarm.
*** ********* ********* *** ********* ** offered ** * *****-***** ******* ** purchased ** ** ***-** **** *********/*** providers.
*** ******* ***** ***** * ******* of *** ********** *** ************* ** video-based *** *********:
Video-Based *** *********: **********
*** ** *** **** ********** ** video-based *** ********* ** *** ************ costs ***** *** ******* **** **** run ***** ********* *** **** ****** already *********. ********, ** **** ******* need ** ** *****, *** ***** surveillance ************** (*.*., *******, ***** *****, etc.) ** ******* ******* ** *****.
** ********** ** ********* (*.*., ** bag ****** ** ********** ** ******** items) ** ******* *********** ********* ** video-based *** ********* ** **** **** not ******* ********** ** ******** ***** or ***** ****** ** ***** ** lines ***.
*** ******* ** *** *****-***** ******** to ***** *** ****** ********* ****** video-based ********* ** ******* ** ****** shooter's ******** *** ***********, ***** *** be ****** / ******* ***** *********** for ******** ** ********** **** ****. Lastly, ***** *** ******* ******** ** the ******* ** **** **** ********** the ****.
************, ***** *** ******** ****** **************, video-based *** ********* *** ******* ****** and ******* ****** *** *********, ****, providing ******** ** ***** ***** *** drawn *******.
Video-Based *** *********: *************
******** *** ** *** ******* *********** of **** ******** ** *** ******** nature ** *** **********. ** *** video-based ******** ******* * *******, *** firearm ** ******* *****, *** * potential ******** ** ********. **** ***** limited **** ** **** ********* ** hide/evacuate *** ******** *** *** *********** to ****** ** *** *****.
********, *****-***** ********* *** ******* ** visible ****. *********, ** **** *** stop **** **** ******** *** ******** and ****** ****** *** ********* ******** (assuming **** * *** ***** **** draw *** ******* **** ******* ****** the ********).
************, *****-***** ********* ** *** ***** a ****** ********* (**** ** * physical **********, *** *******) **** ***** prevent **** **** ***** ******* ************* and ************ **** *** ********. ****, a ****** ********** *** ***** ******** peace ** **** *** * ***** of ********.
***** ********* *** ***** ** ***** alarms ** ***** **** ******* ****** (for *******, *********, ***** *****, ******** with *******, ***.). **** ***** *********** cause ***** ****** ** ****** ********** on *******.
******, **** ********** ****** ** *** video-based ******** ******* ********** ** ******** conditions, ****** **********, *** **** *** field ** **** **, *** ******** of *** *** ***** (*.*., * black *** **** ** **** ***** to * **** ******** *** ** missed ** *** ********), ***.
Video-Based *** *********: **************
*** *****-******** ********* *** ******* ****** per ****** (********* $**-*** *** ****** monthly). ****, *** ************'* ******* **** heavily ******* ** *** ****** ** cameras. ** *** ******** ** ******-**********, the ********** ***** ** ****** **** cameras **** *** *** ********* (*.*., only *** ********, **** *** ****, only ******, ***.), ***** *** ***** the ************* ** ******-***** *** *********.
** *** ***** ****, ** *** facility *** ****** ***********, **** ***** consider ****** ********** ******* ** ******* the ****** ********.
Non-Specialist ******* ********* *******
*** *** ****** ******** **** ***-********** devices, **** ** ************* ******* ** surveillance ******* **** **** * *****-** microphone ** ****. ***** ** **** not ****** ***** ********* *** *** purpose ** ********* ********, ** *** quite ********* **** *** ***** *** such ******* ** *******/**** **** ********* instead ** ********** *******.
********** *******, **** ** ***** ********* by***,*******, ***., **** ******** ******* *** complex ****** **********, ******* ** ***** false ***** ***** ******** ** *** rate **** * ************ ********** ** a ****** ** ************* ******.
Physical *********: **********
******** *********, ***** ** *********** ******* at *********, *** *** ******* **********, from ****-**** ***** ********* *** *-*** bag ******** ** ****** "******* *********", as **** ** ***** ************.
***** *** *** *** *-*** ** millimeter **** **** ********, ***** ************ are ****** **** ** ********** **** the ******* ******** ************, **** ** prisons *** ********. **** ****** ***'* cover **** ** **** *** ****** used ******* ** ***** ************.
**** ****** **** ******** ********* ******* are ***** ** *** ******** ********, which **** ** *************** ***** ** register ******** ******* *** **** **** signal ********** ** ****** *** ****** on ********* *******. *** **** ********** on *** ***** ******* ****, ****** ************ ***** ********* ******* *** ******/******* ******** ******** ***** **** ****** ********* ********** *********.
******** ********* *** ******* ********** ******** to ****** *** *****-***** ************, **** as *** ******* ** ****** ****** weapons, ****** ****** **********, ***. *******, it **** *** *********** *************. *** example, **** ******** ****** ****** ************ in ** ****** ******* *********.
*** ******* ***** ********** *** **** and **** ** *** ******** ********* approach:
Physical *********: **********
*** *************** ****** ** *** ********* devices ****** **** ** **** *** covert *******. ** ******* *********, ***** devices *** **** **** **** ******** the ********. ****, *******, **** *** device's ******* ** **** ******* ******* depends ** *** ********.
***********, ***** ******* ********* ****** ************ firearms *** ***** ******* (**** ** knives *** *****) ** *** ** a ********** *******.
* ******** ********** *** ****** ***** of **** *** ******** *** *** as * ******** *** ** ***** guns **** *** ********.
************, ** * *** ** ***** during *** ******** *********, **** ******** can ***** *** ******* ********** ** the ********* (********** ** ** *-*** bag ******* ******* *** *** ** it ********* *** *** *** * potential *******).
******, ************ ***** ********* *** "******* detectors" ******* *** ******* ***** *** can ** *****, **** ******** *********** in *** ********** ******** - ** one *** *** ** ** ******** or ******* ****** *** ******** ********.
Physical *********: *************
***** ******** ********* *** ****** * variety ** ********* ****** *****, **** covert *** *****, ***** ****** ** innocuous ******* *** ******. **** *** lead ** ** ********** ******* ********** and **** ***** *** ** **** secondary ********* ** ********** ** ******** items ****** ***** ******* *** ********.
********, ** **** **** ********* *********, these *********** ***** ******* ********** *********, which *** *** *********** ****** ** the ******** (****** ** *** **** of ********** ******** ** ** ******* workers **** ***** ********** ** ****** with *** *********).
*********, ** *** ******** ********* ******** a ********** *** **** *** ***** the **** *********, ** ***'* ******* any *********** ***** ** ****** ******* (such ** ******** *** ********) ** the ******* ******** *** **********.
******, *** ******** ********* ** ******* only ** ********* **** ***********, ** if * *** ***** ***** * way ** *** ****** *** ******** avoiding *** ********** ****, *** ******** screening ***'* ** *********.
Physical *********: **************
*** ** *** ******* ************** **** physical ********* ** *********** *** ****** objects (*.*., *** ******** ***** **** to **** **** **** ****, ********** up ** * ***-******* ***, ***.). This ******* *** ******** ** *** physical ********* ******, ***** *** ****** the ******* ********** *** *** ****** of *********. ** *** ********'* *********** is *** ** * ***** ***** (i.e., ********* **** ***** ****** *******), the ***** ****** **** ** **********, and ***** ********* *** *** *** system.
********, *** ******** ***** ** ******** the ********* ********. **** ********* ************ do **** **** ** *** - for *******, *** ********* ** ***** a ************ ***** ******** *** *-*** bag ******* ***** ****** **** *** "weapons ********" ********.
*** ******** **** ***** ** ******* the ******** ** ***** ***********. ***** virtually *** ******** *** ** ***** a *** ************ ******** ******, **** technologies **** ********+ ********* *** **********. ************, ** *** ******** **** more **** *** ********, **** **** create **** **** ****** *** *********. With ************ ******** ****** ***** ******* in *******, * ******** *** **** additional ******** ** **** **** ****** or **** ***** ******* **** ***** activities ** *** *** ******. *** latter ** ***** **** ** ****** environments, ***** ******** *** ************** ******* routinely **** *** ** *** ******** when **** ******** ******.
******, ** * ******** *** ******** entry ******, *** ********** ***** ** consider **** ***** ****** **** ** available ** *** ****** *** **** kind ** ********* ***** ** ** each *****.
*** ************ ***** **** ******* ****** on *** ********'* ****** ** ********** and *** ****** ** ***** ******. For *******, * ******* ***** ******** costs ** *** ~$*,*** ** $*,*** range, *** *** *** ** *-*** bag ******* *** ** *** ** ~$15,000, *** ******* ********* *** **** anywhere **** ~$**,*** ** * ***-**** purchase *** ** $***,*** ** * 4-year *****.
Metal ********* **. "******* *********"
************ ****-******* ***** ********* ************ **** the ******** ** ********* ***** ***-*******/****** checkpoint. *****, ****** "******* *********" *** growing ** ********** ** ****** *****, with ****** *********, ********, *** ***** large ****** ******* *** ******.
***** ****** "******* *********" *** ******** as * ****** *********** ** ************ solutions *** ** ***** ****** ************** capabilities, ***** **** ** ***** ***** alarms, ****** **********, *** ****** ******* experience. *** ******** ** ***** "******* detectors" ** *** ************* ****** *****, with **** ********* ******** ********* **** are ~*** **** ********* (***** ******* costs ~$***,*** ** * ****-**** ***** compared ** ~$*,*** *** * ************ metal ********). ***** **** ********** ********* exist, *** ****** ****** ** *** at ***** $**,** *** * "******* detector".
*** **** ******** ** ************ ********* "weapons *********", ** ******* ******* ********** ********* ** *********** ********** *****.
Video **. ***** **. ******** *********: **** ********
** ** ********* ** ************ **** these ********** ** ***** ******* (*) the ***** **** ** *** ********** greatly ******* ** *** **** ** the ************ *** *** **********' ******, and (*) *** ******* ********* *** be ********* **** *** ******** ** another *** **** ****** *** ********, as ********* *** **** ***** ******** as * ************, ******** ************ (******* hardware ***** *** ************ ****), ** one-time-purchase.
*** **** ** ***** *** *****-***** approaches ******* ** *** ****** ** the ********/****** ** *******/********* (*.*., *** many *****, *****, ****** *****, ***.), whereas *** ***** ** ******** ********* depends ** *** ****** ** ***** points *** ****** ********. ************, ******** screening *** ***** ********** ***** ********.
*** ******* ******, *****-***** ********* *** typically ****** ** $**-$*** *** ****** monthly. *********-***** ******* ********* *** ** priced ******** **** $*** *** ****** annually ** $*,*** ** * ***-**** purchase, ********* ** *** *********. ******** screening ** *** ******** ***** *** can **** *** ******* *********** ** pricing ***** ** *** ****** ******** - *** *******, ** * ******** decides ** ** **** ******* ***** detectors, **** *** ****** ** *** ~$5,000 *** ****** ** * ***-**** purchase, *** ** **** **** ** choose ***** *******, ** ***** **** them ~$***,*** ** * ****-**** *****.
Application *********
***** ***** *** ***** ********* ***** of *******, ******** *** ***** ******** measure **** ****** ** *** ***** and *********** ** ************. *** *******, a ********* ******** *** ***** *****-***** detection *** *** ***-********* ****** *** ability ** ********* **** ******** ******** systems. ** *** **** ****, * school ***** *** *** ******** ********* for *** ********* ******** *** ****** deterrent.
*** * ************* ********, ************* *** utilize * *********** ** ***** ************. For ********, * ****** ******* *** utilize *****-***** ********* *** ******* ************, sound-based ********* *** ***** ********, *** physical ********* ** ***** ****** ** prevent ******* **** ******** *******, **** increases *** ********* ***** *************.
**** ***** ******** ********* ** ********** the ********* *** ********** ** **** technology ** **** ************* **** ******** security ********* *** ***** ******** *****.
**********
*** *** ******** ********* *** **** background ** *** ********* ******** *****, audio, *** ******** *********-***** *********.
*****-***** *** *********:
- ******** ****** *** ********* *******
- ******** *** ********* *** ****** *********
- ******* ****** $* *******, **** ** Be *******
*****-***** ******* *********:
- ******* ********* ******* (*****.***) *******
- ******* ********* ******* ******* ******, ****
- ******** ******* ********* *******
******** *********:
*** ** ***** ************ **** "****" a *******
******. * ***** *** ***** **** to *** "****** ** **** **** shootings ** ** ********* ******** *********", instead ** *** ***** **** ***** simply "********". ** *** ******, ** don't ***** *** ** **** **** stop ** ******** **** **** ***** to "********" **** *** **** ***** help ****** *** ***********, ****** ** what ***** *** ** **** **** is ******* * *******.
******* **** **** ******* *** ** willing ** ***. *** *** **** to ********** **** ******* *** ** kill **** ****** **** **** ******* else *** ********* *** *** * gun *** *** *** ****** *** be ******* *** ***** ******* ****** anyone *** ** ********. ** ** there *** * *** ** ***** systems ******** **** *** ********** ********** that *** *** *** *** *** same ******** ** *** "****** ******" Who ***** **** ***** ***** ******* are.
** **** ** *** ******** ** Act ***********, *** ****** ********* ********* will ** ******* * ******* ******** due ** *** ********* ******:
*) *** (*********** ***** *********) ******* are *** ******* ** ******* **** than *** *** *** *** **** per ***.
*) *** ******* **** **** * human ** *** ****, *** ** filter *** ***, ******* ** ******** the ****** - **'* *** ***.
** * ******, ** **** *******, displaying ******* ********* ************* **** ** "detecting ** ******** ** * ***" is ****** ******. **** ***** **** been *** **** * ***** ***. Today **** *** **** ****** ** legislations ** ****** ***** **** **** serve ** * **** ***** *** the **.
*******, ** ** ******* **** ******* legislations ** **** ****** ** ***** to ****** ********* *******. ** ******** data ******* ********* ** ****. *** having * ***** ******** ** *** entrance ** * ******** ****, ** not ******* *** ** ***** **** as * ******* ** ***** ** an **** **** * **** ***** rate.
*** ******* *** ******* *** ********** can ****** ** ******** ** ********* Data ******* ********** ** *********** ******* up ***** **** ** "**** **** is ********* ** ** ** ************ system *** **** ******".
***** ** ******* *******.
******,
***
**** **** ** **** ** *** believe ******* ******* ****** ** ****** concealed *******? **** *** ********* ***** been ** ******* ** **** ***********.
** ***,
* *** ***** **** ** *** requirement **** **** *** ** *** one ** **** ******* *** **** per ***.
* **** * **** ** *** a ***** (**.*) ** *** ** Act (********* **** - ************ ******** ******************.****) **** *** ** ********** *** could *** **** ********* ** **** requirement. **** ** **** ******?
******!
***, ***, ******. ***, *** *** share * **** / ********* ** "not ******* ** ******* **** **** 1FP *** *** *** **** *** day." ** ** *****, * ** not ********** *** *** *****, * don't **** *** *** ****** ** validate ** ******* * ***** **** you **** ***** **** * *********** impact.
** ** *** ** **** ** arbitrary ******* ** ******* ** *******, why **** * *********** *** ***** upon ****? **** *** **** ****** is, *** ****** ****** **, ***** upon ******? *** *** ** ******* Brand * **** ******** positives ** ***** ********* * *** while ********** **,*** ******, *** ***** Y ***** ******** *** "********" ****** while ********** **** **** ***?
*****, *** ** **=***** ******** *** FN=False ********?
******** ** ****** ***** ******. *** Partnership *** ******** *** ***** ******* provides ****** *** ***** ** * guidance *** **** **** ******* *********.********** & ********* | ********* ****** ********** *** **** ****** safe *** ** ** ***** *********** awareness *** ** ************* ** * facilities ******** ******** *****. ** * simple ******* *** ** ******* ***** detectors **** *** **** ** ****** shooter ***** (** **** ***** ******* doors * ***'* *** ***** **** through ********* ** ***** **** ** a *******) *** **** *** **** dramatically ** ******** *** ****** ** bring ** ******* - ************ ** the ********* ** ****** ** ** can't ** ******* ******. ** **** is ** ****** ******* ***** *********** awareness ******* ********. ***** ** *** shooter. *** ******* ********** ****** ***** is **** ** ********* ***** ** security.
**** ** * **** ***********, *** informative, *****. *** * ** *** 100% ** ****** **** *** *********** that *** ** ***** ************ **** "stop" * *******. *** ***** ******* one ** **** ****** **** *** potential ******* ** **** ******** ***** his/her ******, ** **** ** *** be **** *** ******** ** *****; while ******* ** **** ****** **** the ****** ** **** **** *****..***** tends ** ******* **** *** ******** part *** ******* *******. ******* ** not ******** **** **** ******.
**** *** ******* ***** ** ***** detectors/weapon ********* (***, ** **** *** pointed *** ******** ***** ** *** past, **** ** ***** ***** ** better ******** ** "******* + ***** items ** *****"), ***** ****** ** detect ***** *** "*** **** ******** a ******", *** ******** ******, ***'* actually **** ** *****, **** ****** move *** ******** ***** ** **** begin. *** ***'* **** **** ** have ******* *** ****** ** ***** this.
***, **** ** **** ********* ***, sometimes, ******** ** *** ****, ** occasions **** *** ******** ** *** attacker *** *****, *** ***** ****** to ** * ...**********...** ****** **** them.
***** ****** ** **** ********* ** a *********. ** *** *****, ***** all ***** ************ ** * ******* approach ***** ******** ** ****, *** cost ***********. ******* ******** ***** ******* screening ** ******** ********* **** ***** shot ********* ** ****** ** ******** to ** ******** ****** * **** of * ********, ***** *** **** is *******?