#sb 357

[drag-tween]

California moves to repeal loitering law that trans activists say leads to bias

California is a step closer to repealing an anti-loitering law that, LGBTQ advocates say allows law enforcement to target transgender women and women of color

[nhlabornews]

Students, Parents, Educators Send Strong Message of Support During Public Hearing on SB 357, Gun Free School Zones

 In response to concerns by school administrators, parents, students, and educators, bill would clarify that local school boards can establish and enforce gun free school zones

CONCORD, NH – Students, parents, educators, and advocates turned out in force today despite the snowstorm to show support for an amendment to SB 357, which would clarify that local school boards can establish and enforce gun free school zones. While federal law establishes gun free school zones with qualifications, gaps in state law and a recent statement from the Attorney General’s office has left school districts and police departments in murky water on enforcement and jeopardized safe spaces for our children to learn and grow. Statements from the public hearing today:

Senator Martha Hennessey (D-Hanover), Amendment Sponsor: “This amendment clarifies that school boards may determine whether or not to prohibit the possession of firearms in a safe school zone. It brings local control to New Hampshire towns and cities, allowing school boards to decide how best to keep their schools safe. This will not solve all of our problems with recurring gun violence in schools, which is a very complex problem and requires serious, focused, and open-minded examination. But we all agree we want to protect our children and provide the best learning environment possible.”

Statement from Concord High School Senior Jonathan Weinberg: “Growing up, gun related violence has been a central part of my generation’s life. Too many students have become accustomed to lockdowns and active shooter drills. Too many teachers have used themselves as human shields to protect the students they love. Too many teachers, students, coaches, administrators, and other school officials have had their lives taken. And too many days have gone by without any action for gun violence prevention. SB357 will make school districts safer. I want to live in a society that promotes compassion and caring for one another. That puts education and lively debate between students first. I don’t want my peers to fear going to school because they are not in a safe learning environment, since their school district cannot enforce gun free school zones.”

Note: Weinberg testified that he sent a survey to the entire student body after the Parkland shooting. One question was, “Have you ever been distracted by the thoughts of tragedies of other schools around the nation?” Over 80% of the 339 responses answered yes. 

Statement from Hopkinton High School Junior Jennifer White: “I’m a junior in High School, and I’ve been through too many lockdown drills to count. I’ve also been in a situation where the students weren’t told that it was a drill, and I’ve seen the fear that my classmates experienced when they thought there was a shooter in the school. Some of them still talked about it months later, because it had such a traumatic effect on them. My classmates and I have grown up in a world where the fear of getting shot and killed while at school is a legitimate one that becomes stronger each time we learn of another school shooting. We go to school to learn, not to fear for our lives. When we sit in class, we should be working, not taking note of all the possible exits, or staring at the closet, wondering how many of us would be able to squeeze inside of it if a shooter entered the building. But as I think about the idea that nearly anyone could legally walk into my school with a gun, and nobody could do anything about it until they started shooting people, that constant fear becomes even more of a reality. I understand that gun-owners have the right to carry a gun, and I respect that right. However as a student, I also have the right to feel safe when I’m at school, a place where the state requires me to be at, and it is important that my right to safety is also respected.”

Granite State Progress Executive Director Zandra Rice Hawkins: “Right now, someone could bring a gun into a school and unless they issue threats or start shooting students, school administrators are being told they cannot do anything about it. Schools are forced to monitor the situation, directing school personnel and resources away from the primary job of teaching our children. If the person carrying the gun does indeed start shooting, there will be a lot of second guessing as to what should have been done from the start. This is a major liability and public relations crisis for our schools at best, and a school shooting tragedy at worst. Let’s skip the second guessing and empower our local school districts and police departments to take action to protect our students. Without this amendment, they won’t have options they can rely on to help deter a dangerous situation before it becomes a deadly one.  Guns do not belong in any of our elementary or high schools, but at a minimum local school boards should be able to determine whether or not firearms are allowed in their schools.”

Earlier this year Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley told reporters he believes state and federal laws already allow school boards to establish and enforce gun free school zones. Students, parents, educators, and administrators urge the committee to vote the amendment to SB 357 ought to pass to explicitly clarify that local control in state law.

The Senate Education Committee is expected to vote on the bill tomorrow, Wednesday, March 14th at 2:30 PM.

Students, Parents, Educators Send Strong Message of Support During Public Hearing on SB 357, Gun Free School Zones was originally published on NH LABOR NEWS