School Safety
School Resource Officers
Having School Resource Officers (SROs) certainly helps. Most of the schools in Anderson District 4 are covered now, but this is not true of all of Anderson's school districts, nor is it true across the state.
I support providing supplemental SRO funding for the districts that need it, and voted to put it in the 2018 budget.
My Votes
- 2018 Budget, Amdt. #4 by Rep. Magnuson, to reallocate $5 million from park marketing to SROs (failed 38-71)
Facility Security
Some school buildings lack basic security measures like:
- Secure entrances
- Magnetically-lockable doors
- Safety plan and drills
I will vote for any common-sense change to state regulations that are needed to improve the safety of school facilities.
My Votes
- S.709 - active shooter drills (passed 92-0)
End "Gun-Free" Zones
As helpful as having an SRO around can be, that person can't be everywhere at once.
- Our kids and teachers are put at risk by making schools "gun-free" zones.
- Allowing qualified and interested staff, volunteers, and/or parents to carry could provide a more ubiquitous safety net at no cost to taxpayers.
- Currently, a CWP-holding first responder or volunteer fireman violates the law if they don't leave their gun behind when responding to an emergency incident at a school.
I have authored legislation to repeal the state prohibition and allow each school district to decide for themselves what their policy will be.
My Legislation
- H.3330 - repeals the state prohibition on carrying guns on school grounds, and allows each school district to decide their own gun policy