Indiana: School Security Reform Bill Passes House Committee, Goes to House Floor

[BiscuitNaBasket]

I received this e-mail from the NRA-ILA three hours ago:

Today, the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 1 by a 16-7 vote. Sponsored by state Senator Pete Miller (R-24), SB 1 would establish a School Resource Officer (SRO) program in schools and sets forth their duties and responsibilities. This legislation would provide schools an effective asset in protecting our children and increasing safety. On multiple occasions, an armed presence in schools has prevented or even stopped a shooting. SB 1 would better outfit our schools to defend against future threats. This measure passed in the Indiana Senate by a 43-7 vote on February 25.

SB 1 would help increase safety in schools and would supply a measure of defense that would further keep our children out of harm’s way. It is important that you tell your state Representative to support Senate Bill 1.

SB 1 is now eligible for action on the House floor. While a date for consideration has not been set, your NRA-ILA will keep you informed as information becomes available. In the meantime, please contact your state Representative and urge him or her to support Senate Bill 1.

I'm happy about it. I know there's a lot of controversy over whether an armed staff member is a good idea or not but I'm all for armed staff. It's the best suggestion that will immediately make a difference in our schools.

 

[BogWalker]

I just hope it's competent armed staff. Wouldn't trust a rent-a-cop or many of my liberal and gun fearing teachers with my life. Hey, maybe they'll quit if we get a decent armed cop in the hallways.

 

[Vicfirth01]

I'm proud of Indiana, if passed it'll be the first state in the union to write this as law. I agree though I hope they get top notch guards otherwise we would just be adding to the problem. If we do it, it needs to be done right so we can set an example for the rest of the states.

 

[Mad Macs]

Um, do you want somebody with only 40 hours of training carrying a gun around a school? How many hours do LEO's go through?

 

[ScouT6a]

I can teach someone a heck of a lot about firearm use in 40 hours. Would it be the perfect solution, no. Would it be better than what we have now, yes.
As a retired military senior NCO, I would gladly volunteer a couple of days a month if it would fill a need. Just saying...

 

[marcp]

I believe our school's would be safer as long as they keep all door's locked and the only access into is thru a central door where they can have a trained and armed person on duty during school function's. I do not believe this should be a teacher or janitor, it should be an off duty police officer or a hired armed security person. Our best offence is a great defense.

 

[Mad Macs]

Does anybody honestly think they will get "highly qualified" people to do this, or will they go the TSA route and hire anybody they can for as little as possible.

Let's think about this.

 

[ScouT6a]

Mad Macs,
I see your concern. Like I said, is it the perfect solution, no, but you have to start somewhere. Just knowing that they could encounter an armed deterrent may be enough to stop many of the would be attackers and send them off in search of another soft target.
Heck, I saw guys react badly to their first attacks in combat that I thought would do fine by the way they handled training and the years of military service they had. You just never know how someone is going to react to a situation until they are put in the middle of it.
If they put a trained, armed guard into a layer of other protective measures and security considerations, it's a start. Do you really think they are going to fill our schools with retired SEALS and U.S. Marshals?

 

[schafe]

Um, do you want somebody with only 40 hours of training carrying a gun around a school? How many hours do LEO's go through?

Um, Yes! Were our families more safe after we acquired our LTCH and had 40 hours of training?... Absolutely!

 

[Mad Macs]

Um, Yes! Were our families more safe after we acquired our LTCH and had 40 hours of training?... Absolutely!

Would you be willing to defend an entire school? Do you feel with 40 hours of training you know low-light defensive shooting?

Hey, anything's possible. I agree SOMETHING needs to be done, but I think we need to take a step back and make sure this will be done right and not just done as cheaply as possible.

 

[Mad Macs]

Mad Macs,
I see your concern. Like I said, is it the perfect solution, no, but you have to start somewhere. Just knowing that they could encounter an armed deterrent may be enough to stop many of the would be attackers and send them off in search of another soft target.
Heck, I saw guys react badly to their first attacks in combat that I thought would do fine by the way they handled training and the years of military service they had. You just never know how someone is going to react to a situation until they are put in the middle of it.
If they put a trained, armed guard into a layer of other protective measures and security considerations, it's a start. Do you really think they are going to fill our schools with retired SEALS and U.S. Marshals?

I feel that if they are putting an armed guard into a school, they DO need to be highly trained. I'm sorry, but putting a minimum wage lackey with a week of training into a school with a gun is a seriously bad idea.

But I'll reserve judgement until we know the final process for becoming a school guard.

 

[schafe]

Would you be willing to defend an entire school? Do you feel with 40 hours of training you know low-light defensive shooting?

Hey, anything's possible. I agree SOMETHING needs to be done, but I think we need to take a step back and make sure this will be done right and not just done as cheaply as possible.

So, I guess there should be laws that all of us who take responsibility for the safety of others should be disallowed from carrying near them untill we have had 40+ mega hours too? I'm just saying that it's 100% better than being the target rich environment we see across the country.
Get this in place then improve it. Doesn't that make sense?

 

[ScouT6a]

From experience, you can train for years, for every imagined scenario and then Mr. Murphy will step in. Heat, cold, wind in your face, sun in your eyes, out of range, near ambush, non combatants between you OR the enemy just doesn't react to your attack/defense the way he did in your training. :o)

 

[Mad Macs]

So, I guess there should be laws that all of us who take responsibility for the safety of others should be disallowed from carrying near them untill we have had 40+ mega hours too? I'm just saying that it's 100% better than being the target rich environment we see across the country.
Get this in place then improve it. Doesn't that make sense?

No, we definitely don't need more laws. However, I want to see the training and the types of individuals they're putting in these positions before I think this is a good idea. If they pay $5/hour for this job, do you really want that person holding a gun around kids?

I'm not disagreeing with this, I'm saying I want more information before I think it's a good idea.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

How much training should we require before a LTCH holder can carry at a school?

 

[Mad Macs]

How much training should we require before a LTCH holder can carry at a school?

At the risk of starting a holy war on this forum I would say DP101/DP102 would be a good place to start.

 

[schafe]

As we've seen since Sandy Hook, the anti's are masters of getting things through before any one knows what hit them.
Being pro-active and timely are both important.
While we analyze things to death to achieve legislative nirvana, the "friends of anti" have already moved their legislation, and changed public opinion. Sometimes we need to read, and learn from their playbook.

 

[SERparacord]

A clause was put in the bill, schools can opt out, it is no longer mandatory.

 

[pig957]

Um, do you want somebody with only 40 hours of training carrying a gun around a school? How many hours do LEO's go through?[/QUOTE]

Well, I had --

Basic law
Traffic stops
Traffic control
First responder
Field sobriety testing
Evoc (driving course)
Firearms training
Crime scene investigation
Report writing
Physical training
Firearm retention
ASP Training
Self defense
Evidence preservation
Securing buildings

How much of the above training would be of any use to an armed school staff member?

No firearms law training, however, we were instructed take possession of any firearms on traffic stops, field strip and return to owner in a paper bag.

 

[Ngdonut]

I agree with this bill. A competent armed staff member at schools is a good step forward in my opinion.