Kansas school safety bill passes House, no mention of guns
Credit kulr8.com
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Legislation designed to harden Kansas schools against gunmen passed in the House Wednesday, though some lawmakers say the bill remains weak.
The bill would set aside $5 million for schools to upgrade infrastructure to slow or thwart a school shooter, and require schools to work with state agencies to develop guidelines to prepare and respond to mass shootings. The bill passed 119-5 and heads next to the Senate for consideration.
Supporters say fostering relationships between schools and state agencies will ultimately save lives, but some critics say the bill is a way for gun-rights supporters to take the focus off of guns.
At the Garden City Chamber Legislative Coffee on March 17 Rep. Russ Jennings called the bill a “feel good bill.”
“You can’t even put a metal detector a single metal detector in every school building in the state for $5 million,” said Jennings.
