'America's Safest School' Has Taken Extreme Measures To Protect Students

As US politicians weigh up controversial plans to arm teachers in the wake of the Florida massacre, schools have revealed the extreme measures they are taking to protect children.



Bullet-resistant doors, exploding smoke bombs, armed officers and live video links are among the steps taken by education chiefs to try and prevent shooters claiming innocent lives.



Last week 17 students and teachers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.



In the aftermath, Alabama state representative Will Ainsworth announced he would be introducing a controversial bill allowing trained teachers to carry guns, saying children are "sitting ducks in gun-free schools".



Lobby group Everytown for Gun Safety says there have been 19 shootings in US schools so far this year.



A school branded the 'safest school in America' boasts bullet-resistant doors, and the local Sheriff's department can track intruders in real time, NBC reports.



Southwestern High School in Indiana has introduced 'hot zones' - exploding smoke bombs in the ceiling which means a shooter can be isolated and would not be able to see.



Each teacher is given a key fob which can be pressed if there is a gunman inside the building and police can track the shooter via video-link.



Montgomery County Deputy Sheriff Mike Kersey told Fox59 in 2014 - following the Sandy Hook shooting, which claimed the lives of 20 teachers and six staff: "We can locate him. We can get a description of him immediately.



"We can track him throughout the building. We know his weapons platform. We know what he’s doing and where he’s doing it instantly."



In the aftermath of last week's massacre in Florida, several schools in Tennessee closed for the day so a security review could be carried out.



County officials fund armed School Resource Officers at elementary schools in the wake of the Sandy Hook attack, the Tennessean reports.



Announcing his controversial bill, Ainsworth said: "Our children are sitting ducks in gun-free schools, and as the parent of three public school students, I believe we must act now in order to prevent another tragedy," Ainsworth said in a press release.



"With roughly two-thirds of the regular session remaining, there is ample time to research, introduce, pass, and enact this much-needed and potentially life-saving legislation."