Weekly Spotlight 9/19/24 – 9/25/24
Latest Tragedy Underscores Need For New Approach To Protect Children in Schools
As the nation once again works through the pain and aftermath of another tragic school shooting, parents and families nationwide are once again asking the critical question of how to protect our children in school.
Far too often, this debate quickly delves into a partisan political debate rather than a policy discussion for the sake of childrens’ protection. In the weeks since the tragedy, the Biden-Harris administration jumped at the opportunity to call for additional laws that would further restrict access to firearms for all Americans. However, these measures would have done nothing to stop this senseless violence at Apalachee High School.
Current law prohibits a 14-year-old from possessing a firearm and the school in Georgia was designated a “gun-free zone.” Neither law nor the designation of the space was able to stop a deranged gunman from committing such evil. Rather than continuing to pursue policies that we know will not stop this from happening, Americans must approach this issue with facts and reason.
To better protect our schools, one approach involves allowing trained school staff to carry concealed firearms on campus. This policy would empower trained, law-abiding adults who want to concealed carry on the job to better protect their classroom. We have seen this strategy rolled out across more than 30 states nationwide.
An even more common sense and actionable approach is to ensure that every school is under the careful watch and protection of an adequate number of trained security personnel. School resource officers (SROs) and private security will provide critical and immediate protection for students. Thankfully, there was an SRO on campus at Apalachee High School who was able to quickly engage the perpetrator.
Our children deserve to go to school and know that they are safe. Only once lawmakers and Americans approach this crucial conversation from a place of facts and reason can we start to make that a reality.
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OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
The Truth About Guns: National Constitutional Carry Measure Introduced In Congress
For those concealed carry practitioners in the 21 states that don’t yet have a constitutional, or “permitless,” carry law on the books, help could be on the way at the federal level. On Wednesday, Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced the National Constitutional Carry Act. HR 9534 would remove permitting requirements for Americans to carry firearms throughout the nation.
Florida Voice (Florida): Democratic House Candidate Derek Reich Vows To Introduce A Bill To Repeal Constitutional Carry If Elected
Democrat state House District 73 candidate Derek Reich vowed to introduce a bill to repeal constitutional carry in Florida, if elected in November. Reich is a 12th grade U.S. Government and Economics teacher in Sarasota, according to his campaign website. On his website, Reich said he will “introduce legislation that strengthens background laws and repeals “Constitutional carry” in Florida.”
Southwest Times Record (Arkansas): Arkansas Leaders Consider Proposal To Carry Firearms In Schools, Courts
Gun control advocates and Second Amendment activists spoke Monday before an Arkansas legislative committee working on proposals for legislation which, if adopted next year, would make it legal to carry guns in places including school grounds and courthouses. They promoted draft legislation submitted in a report earlier this month that is the outcome of a year-long-plus study examining the state’s gun laws. The report was produced by Sen. Ricky Hill, R-Cabot, and Rep. Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs, co-chairs of the Game and Fish/State Police Subcommittee.
The Truth About Guns (California): The Nickel-And-Diming Of Gun Owners In California
Make no mistake: California’s politicians are rabidly anti-Second Amendment. They will attempt any and every gun control policy on law-abiding Americans no matter how absurd or unconstitutional. California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom set the stages for a national political run at some point by launching a dead-end effort to adopt a new Constitutional Amendment to do away with the pre-existing common law rights enshrined within the Second one.
The Truth About Guns: Attorneys General File Supreme Court Brief To Limit The ATF
A coalition of 27 state Attorneys General has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court urging Justices to limit the Biden Administration’s ban on “ghost guns” through a “Frame or Receiver” rule proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The brief suggests, at best, that the ATF has overstepped its authority, and at worst that the agency is intentionally cooperating with the Biden Administration to evade the law by circumventing the legislative process.
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