TO GET RID OF DRUGS, GET RID OF BACKPACKS

There is one simple solution to keeping most guns and drugs out of our
schools: Don't allow students to bring backpacks on school property.
Backpacks are not a necessity, but they sure are convenient for hiding
things like guns and drugs.

When I went to school in the '50s and '60s, backpacks were for hiking
and camping; no one would have thought to bring one to school. We just
carried our books and binders loose or tied with a strap. We also didn't
have drugs or guns in schools in those days. Could there be a
correlation?

Could the slight inconvenience of banning backpacks save some lives in
our schools? Seems worth the try to me.

Julia Goodermote, Reno
(via e-mail)