Arizona high school to no longer allow students to carry backpacks

PHOENIX — An Arizona high school has opted to no longer allow its students to carry backpacks.

Douglas High School is implementing its new bag policy on Monday in an effort to boost student safety, the Douglas School District announced in a Facebook post.

Students will only be able to bring clear tote bags of a prescribed size, clear plastic storage bags and small clutch bags/wallets that fit inside the clear bags.

The school’s new policy is the same one the Arizona Cardinals use for game day entry.

“It’s a small step, but I don’t want people to get the impression it will completely curb the extreme violence that has been seen across the country,” Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

Penzone is an advocate for the policy but hopes it doesn’t create a false sense of security about potential school gun violence.

Douglas’ Facebook post received mixed reactions, with some asking for stricter protections and others happy the school is putting a policy in place.

“Contraband and other small weapons that can be hidden on peoples’ bodies aren’t going to be deterred by this new policy,” Penzone said.

Douglas High School is located about 120 miles from Tucson in southeastern Arizona.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report.

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