Scott Powers
Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Demings has introduced legislation that would forbid the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from directing counter-terrorism money toward arming teachers.
Demings is a former Orlando police chief who led the charge to expand Homeland Security counter-terrorism grants to cities such as Orlando. On Monday she expressed her steadfast opposition tousing such money to arm teachers, as she announced the re-introduction of her bill, “The Secure Communities and Safe Schools Act.”
That bill was first introduced in a Republican-controlled House of Representatives last year, cleared one committee, and then went nowhere. This year’s model may find more traction in the now Democratically-controlled House, though it’s not likely to see a companion piece go anywhere in the U.S. Senate.
In a news release, Demings said she is re-introducing the bill after the Florida Senate voted last week to allow for school districts to let teachers volunteer to bring guns into the classroom, as last-lines of defense against potential terrorism or mass-shootings such as the 2017 tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17.
House version, HB 7093, was temporarily postponed on second reading.
Demings echoed the voices of opponents, including the teachers’ union who opposed SB 7030.
“Arming teachers is a recipe for disaster—a reckless plan which will complicate active-shooter situations, as well as forcing teachers to take on not only the responsibility but also the hurt, pain, guilt, and liability when they find themselves out-skilled and out-gunned—with our children in the crossfire,” Demings declared in a news release announcing her bill.
“As a 27-year law enforcement officer, the solution is simple: not more guns in classrooms, but laws that keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them,” she added.
One comment
Katie
April 30, 2019 at 9:28 am
I agree with Val Demings. As a former teacher, I would be petrified working in a school, let alone be a student in a school where teachers are allowed to arm themselves. How would I know as a fellow teacher, who, when, & where another teacher is armed. Legislators have absolutely no business or idea what they are doing. If 1 teacher is allowed to bring a gun to school, then what about the student? People have meetings and disagreements. Who will monitor teachers and students emotions on regular school days when students with learning issues, and anger issues do not comply? Will the teacher pull the gun in self defense?
This doesn’t even touch the issue of learning. No one learns in a tense situation. You think teachers have a tough time now, then go to the schools yourself and sit in on a class, & you will understand what educators are up against. Legislators need more education themselves if they think adding guns to teachers is a solution. What they need to do is ban guns everywhere. This is the21st century, not the 17th. Leave your muskets in the history books.
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