After Texas shooting, Washington lawmakers call for special session on school safety
May 21, 2018, 8:05 AM
Washington state capitol in Olympia. (AP file photo)
(AP file photo)
After the latest deadly school shooting in Texas, some state Republican lawmakers are calling for a special legislative session to ensure our schools are better protected before the next school year.
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Senator John Braun said the key is going to be focusing on legislation that can actually pass, rather than controversial gun control measures.
“My heart goes out to the victims and grieving members of the Santa Fe community,” he said in a statement. “Their loss is unimaginable and yet another example of reprehensible terror in our school system.
“No law or legislative action will alone change human hearts and altogether stop violence. But the Legislature can take steps to reduce the risk of deadly school violence, which stems most often from mental illness.
“Violence in American schools frequently results in Republicans and Democrats arguing instead of working to solve the problem. Fortunately, in Washington state, there are areas where we can find agreement and make meaningful improvements to better protect our students and educators. Earlier this year I proposed and advocated for putting $500 million in state bonding authority before voters to expand mental health services and treatment in communities statewide. Others have proposed limiting access to certain types of guns by individuals under age 21 or creating anonymous tip lines where safety concerns could be reported to the proper officials.
“We can and should build on this year’s bipartisan work led by Sen. O’Ban working with Senate Democrats, which resulted in a workgroup with diverse experiences to develop strategies to identify and intervene against potential perpetrators of mass shootings. While their reports are not due until December, I encourage the group to meet more frequently and share their recommendations by August, which would give the Legislature time to act this summer – before schools reopen this fall.”
He believes lawmakers could agree on fully funding the school resource officer program, and increased spending on mental health programs are things. But other ideas being talked about — such as arming teachers — are likely to divisive to get approval on both sides.
Democrats have not commented on calls for a special session. But the governor’s office says a lack of legislative session days has never been the problem in reducing gun violence.
During the last session, Washington state lawmakers approved several bills meant to curb gun violence. The legislation that received the most attention was a ban on bump stocks. Gov. Jay Inslee called it a “modest step” in preventing gun violence. Come July, bump stocks will be illegal to own.
Other legislation signed into law by the governor included:
–House Bill 2519: allowing a person who is under 21 years of age and at least 18 years of age, to possess a concealed pistol license, if the person is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the national guard or the reserves of the armed forces of the United States, or an honorably discharged veteran.
–Senate Bill 6298: include the crime of “harassment” to domestic violence convictions for which a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
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—Senate Bill 5553: aimed at preventing suicide. It allows someone to voluntarily waive their rights to firearms when they’re in crisis or having thoughts of suicide. It also allows a process to revoke the waiver and have their right to buy or own a firearm reinstated so long as seven days have passed since they initially waived their rights.
