Legislation requiring weapons detection systems in schools is a step closer to becoming law.
Georgia could become the first state to require weapons detection systems in every public school. On Monday, the Senate Committee on Public Safety unanimously passed House Bill 1023. Members heard from supporters of the bill, including students from Apalachee High School.
“On that day, we lost two students and two teachers, seven others were injured,” Apalachee High junior Daria Lezczynska said in emotional testimony to the committee.
“The fear, the blood, and the chaos, it is burned into my memory.”
She said if such a system had been in place at the school on the day of the shooting, the outcome would have been different.
“That rifle would have never reached our hallways, lives would have been saved, families would not be grieving, students like me would not be carrying this trauma.”
House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, who represents the district, sponsored the legislation. He addressed the committee.
“This is not an unfunded mandate, this is not an unreasonable request,” according to Efstration. “What we’re asking for here, I think is a very necessary measure, to keep Georgia students safe. And it’s similar with the classification we have for other publicly funded facilities such as courthouses or even this state Capitol.”
The legislation does not mandate what types of technology must be used.
“Let’s keep out kids safe, let’s ensure that we are able to prevent further tragedies from occurring, when this technology is out there,” Efstration said.
The full Senate must now consider the measure.
