Officials at a school in Lowellville, Ohio, are likely breathing a sigh of relief after the school’s metal detectors helped them discover a gun in a student’s backpack at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Now they know the investment they made works. And fortunately, schools throughout the local region have similar tools in place to help ensure dangerous weapons cannot make it into those buildings.

But in this case a greater worry is how an 8-year-old student got his hands on the weapon — which was loaded, though no rounds were in the chamber when it was found stored in the backpack, according to WFMJ.

Lowellville Police Chief Rick Alli told WFMJ that police will be speaking with the child’s parents to determine details such as how he got the gun and why he had access to it in the first place.

Though school officials reportedly said there was never a threat to students, and police say they are not yet certain even whether any charges will be filed, the incident serves as an important reminder.

Gun owners MUST be responsible about ensuring their guns are stored unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.

“Research shows secure storage practices play a vital role in reducing the risk of gun violence,” says the organization Everytown for Gun Safety. “Storing firearms securely protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings, gun suicides, and gun theft.”

In the Lowellville case, another concern is why the student believed it was a good idea to bring a gun to school in the first place. Surely school officials, police and the child’s parents will get to the bottom of that and determine whether there is a deeper issue here or simply a child who made a poor decision.

But, again, no matter the child’s motives, he should never have had access to the gun. As these parents learn their lesson, the rest of us must be responsible enough to ensure the same scenario cannot unfold in our own homes.