Rep. Josh Gottheimer is leading a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers and the families of the Parkland, FL school shooting victims in a bid to make schools safer across the U.S.
The legislation would require silent panic alarms in schools nationwide and invest in school resource officers. The Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert (ALYSSA) Act of 2023 will require silent panic alarms in all schools to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter situation.
The second piece of legislation— Strengthening Our Schools (SOS) Act of 2023— would increase investment in more well-trained school resource officers so that every school has a first responder already on the campus in the event of a critical incident.
Parkland Parents
“On February 14, I texted my daughter Alyssa, I told her to run and hide and that help was on the way,” said Lori Alhadeff, Chair of Broward County School Board and President of Make Our Schools Safe. “Unfortunately, that help didn’t get to Alyssa fast enough.
“This is why it’s so vitally important to get law enforcement on the scene as quickly as possible. Time equals life. Alyssa’s Act will give schools the panic button as a standard level of school safety protection in every school across this country.”
School Shootings
According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, only 40% of schools report using silent alarms that are directly connected to local law enforcement. In 2022 alone, more than 270 people were fatally shot or wounded on school grounds, up from 159 in 2018. Just this year, there have been 134 people fatally shot or wounded on school grounds.
Parkland parents Tony Montalto and Max Schachter each lost a child to the school shooting, were on hand as well. Schachter noted it took under two minutes 24 people to be shot in Parkland.
“Seconds save lives. The quicker you can stop the killing, the quicker you will stop the dying,” Schachter, which head up Safe Schools for Alex. “I believe that with a panic app and better trained law enforcement, Alex, Alyssa and Gina would still be alive today.”
Bipartisan Bills
For Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), their districts have been at two of the infamous school shootings in recent years. Moskowitz said he will be leading a Congressional delegation on a tour of Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School next month before it gets torn down.
“As members of Congress, we must take any step we can to keep kids safe,” said Moskowitz. “By putting more well-trained, ready-to-act SROs in every school and setting up silent alarms in every school directly connected to local law enforcement agencies, we are taking concrete steps to help further protect our children.”
Gonzales’ district includes Uvalde, TX, a state that passed legislation requiring silent panic alarms in all schools.
New Jersey Support
“Both the (SOS and ALYSSA Acts) will implement common-sense changes to protect students in classrooms across the nation,” said Gonzales. “The ALYSSA Act would ensure educators and students in every state have these life-saving tools in their classrooms.”
The legislation has the backing of educators, including New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association who say the two bills present a proactive, common-sense approach intent on keeping our children secure.
Pain into Action
“A top priority of every school principal is the safety and well-being of our students, and these,” said Karen Bingert, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association Executive Director. “By enhancing rapid communication with law enforcement and investing in highly trained school resource officers, these bills will strengthen schools’ ongoing efforts to safeguard our children.”
Gottheimer, the father of two school-aged daughters, marveled at the strength of the parents despite what they have endured.
“I can promise you none of us here today will ever give up in our fight for you, the memories of your children, and for the children across our nation,” said Gottheimer, a member of the Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus. “We are here today to… turn their memory — and the pain their family and friends carry every day — into action.”
As a former 25 year educator, both in city schools and suburban ones, I think that it is an excellent idea to install the silent panic buttons – it will enhance the safety of the students, the educators, and staff.
DAH; And cop’s in schools is one horrendous very-BAD-idee!! BUT; Then again, America has imposed many a Very BAD Legislations, which had cost Hundreds of Lives, before they was repeeled!! Why not let the ones whom Ride decide; Like the Parents Decide with some input from the students!!//