Data from various school districts indicate the widespread problem of students carrying weapons at school, and these statistics only represent those students caught with weapons. Some students carry weapons to show off or impress a friend; others carry them out of fear; and in many cases, weapons are a part of the proliferation of gang and drug activity in the schools. Some intervention strategies are school sweeps with portable metal detectors, hot lines for students to report persons with weapons, a school security force, and the requirement that students use only mesh book bags to make weapons easier to spot. Some schools require that students keep book bags and coats in their lockers during school to make the concealment of weapons more difficult. Prevention strategies include the teaching of prosocial skills to promote a positive campus climate, courses in conflict resolution, and tough sanctions for students who violate the weapons prohibition. 27-item bibliography, news reports on weapons incidents in schools.