And while that gun landed an entire group of persons in jail, a gun found on campus at Wesley High last week left the whole school with a black eye.
Administrators at Wesley have criticized the media and Channel 7 specifically for reporting that a stolen 9 millimeter pistol was found on a student at school.
They weren't upset that we reported on the discovery of a gun, but that we put in the name of the school - which was excised from the police and many media reports.
We stand by our decision on the premise that the public - especially parents - have a right to know - but tonight, we'll have a different perspective on it.
In conjunction with the international children's Day Of Broadcasting which is observed on Sunday March 6th. tonight we have a report put together by Phaedra Mohammed Ali, the Head Girl at Wesley.
She asked her fellow students about getting a black eye from the media, and about growing up in a violent society. Here's her report:
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"We hear gun violence sweeping the streets of Belize City bit when it hits your own back yard, your own school, it is a different story. My name is Phaedra Mohammed and Wesley College is my school. I asked my peers what effect gun violence has on them."
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"We know of the present gun violence situation that has occurred in your school, what is your view about this?"
Student
"Well at first when I heard about the situation it startled me because in my four years at Wesley College this is the first time that something like this has happened. But when I really sit back and think about it, everybody makes mistakes and not because of that one person's minor mistake means that our entire school has to be affected the way it was."
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"So would you say the environment in which our child grows up would influence him to bring a gun to school."
Student
"Yes, definitely, a child tends to mimic what he or she sees in society and that is seen."
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"You know gun violence is everywhere in Belize right, it's a very immediate topic in the news every day. Would you say that it is the environment in which a child grows up would influence him to bring a gun to school?"
Student
"The environment that a child grows up can influence him but not the extent of him bringing a gun. You can grow up in a gang violent community but you can be the one to outshine what is the community."
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"If you had one thing to say about your community, about your school. What would it be?"
Student
"I would say that Wesley College remains the prestigious institution that it was. This is one of the best colleges that I have ever attended; well it's the only college that I have ever attended hence the reason why because it is the best. We
have many activities that promote self-awareness. we have many activities that puts us out there to show who we really are and develop our talents and our skills in poetry, dancing, writing, arts and everything and so regardless of that. One minor mistake of one student - that shouldn't stop people from wanting, from being a part of our school community because it remains the best. It simply is the best as I said before we stand on moral values that when you graduate from this school after 4 years you will have become a better person and even if you know you would go on to make one simple mistake like that student did, at the end of the day you could sit back and remember that this teacher taught me this and Mrs. Armstrong taught me that."
"Please remember that our school fair is Saturday March 5th. Please come out and have a fun time."
Phaedra Mohammed Ali
"From my peers, my students here at Wesley College, for the international children's day of broadcasting I am Phaedra Mohammed reporting for 7News."
Wesley College is moving on from that unfortunate episode and getting ready for their fair on Saturday March, 5th at the school grounds beginning at 4pm.
Tomorrow night we'll have another report produced by a young person.
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