In an act of common sense that is all too rare in Congress these days, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a bill that would actually protect the lives of the innocent from violent offenders.
On Tuesday, June 11th, Rep. Massie introduced H.R. 3200 the “Safe Students Act.”
Massie’s bill repeals the so-called Gun-Free Schools Act which disarms teachers, parents, and faculty members on school grounds creating a consequence free environment for potential attackers.
Over 97% of public mass shootings have occurred in “gun free” zones.
The National Association for Gun Rights fully supports Representative Massie’s commonsense bill.
Below is the press release from Rep. Massie’s website:
June 11, 2019 | Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2019
Laura Lington, (202) 225-3465
laura.lington@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) re-introduced the “Safe Students Act,” H.R. 3200. The Safe Students Act would repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act, eliminating the one-size-fits-all federal ban on guns in school zones, making it easier for state and local governments and school boards to unambiguously set their own firearms policies.
“Gun-free zones are ineffective and make our schools less safe. 98 percent of mass public shootings since 1950 have occurred in places where citizens are banned from having guns,” Rep. Massie said. “Banks, churches, sports stadiums, and many of my colleagues in Congress are protected with firearms. Yet children inside the classroom are too frequently left vulnerable.”
“The only thing gun-free zones do is disarm law-abiding citizens and take away their ability to protect themselves and others. We shouldn’t leave our most vulnerable – our children – in an unsafe environment like gun-free zones where acts of violence cannot be stopped,” Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC) said.
This bill, originally introduced by Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) in 2007, repeals the Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) of 1990, which makes it “unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.” In 1995, the Supreme Court held the GFSZA unconstitutional, which prompted Congress to amend the bill in 1996. The Supreme Court has not ruled on the constitutionality of the amended Act.
H.R. 3200 cosponsors include Representatives Justin Amash (R-MI), Jody Hice (R-GA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), James Comer (R-KY), and Brian Babin (R-TX).
Rep. Massie is Chairman of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus in the 116th Congress.
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