Florida Congressman Mario-Diaz Balart (FL-26), in tandem with congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), introduced the School Guardian Act last Thursday (H.R.4111).
The bill’s senate companion, S.B. 1305, was introduced last April by Florida Senator Rick Scott.
If enacted, all k-12 schools in the nation, both private and public, will receive access to federal funds facilitating the hiring of armed law enforcement for safekeeping campus.
“During my time in Congress, I have actively dedicated myself to enhancing community and school safety, recognizing the importance it holds. It is unacceptable for parents or spouses to fear for their loved ones' safety in educational settings,” said Rep. Mario-Diaz Balart.
Enthusiastically, Balart explained that “By placing armed law enforcement officers in K-12 schools, we have discovered effective measures to combat violence.”
While the potential law’s scope is national, Florida Gun-Safety advocates, such as the Stand With Parkland group, have expressed their gratitude for Balart’s initiative. The group emerged following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.
If passed, The School Guardian Act would go far towards making parents more comfortable sending their kids to school everyday. Thank you, Rep. @MarioDB and @RepRichHudson, for introducing it into the House!
— Stand With Parkland (@StandWParkland) June 15, 2023
Federal funding aimed to support the placement of armed law enforcement personnel at k-12 schools would be administered by the U.S. Attorney General through a block grant program.
The law is forecasted to be unanimously supported. Effectively, the bill leaves second amendment rights and separate Democrat initiatives untouched while tackling the nation’s gun safety issue.
Additionally, the funding structure of the bill does not present another burden on taxpayers. Instead, unused money from the IRS would be redirected into the act’s grant program.
Senator Rick Scott emphasized, “Instead of spending billions of dollars to expand the IRS to go after American taxpayers, Washington can send a powerful message to parents about our true priorities by dedicating these funds to the School Guardian Act to provide block grants to states so they can increase school security at every school and keep kids safe.”
Parents shouldn’t have to worry about their children’s safety when they drop them off at school.
My School Guardian Act funds armed law enforcement officers for every K-12 school in the country.pic.twitter.com/lshgc1pp5E
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) June 15, 2023
Bill supporters have cited a Secret Service Study finding “school resource officers (SROs) play an important role in school violence prevention” as forecasting the bill’s success.
The nonpartisan legislation will travel to the committee on judiciary and is expected to swiftly pass.
