GRNC Alert: School Safety Is Up To NC House Republicans

Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus, Rowan) is planning to offer a substitute amendment to the NC Senate's S 5 - School Safety Omnibus. It would create the position of volunteer school faculty guardian. Requirements would be a 16-hour training course from the NC Criminal Justice and Training Standards Commission, drug testing, and possession of a NC Concealed Handgun Permit. It would only apply to those who are either full or part-time faculty or staff of a school. The substitute is based upon his HB 216.

GRNC says, and I agree, that it is time to push Republicans in the proper direction on school safety.


From the alert:

SCHOOL SAFETY IS UP TO NC HOUSE REPUBLICANS

Pro-gun stalwart to offer full school protection bill as an amendment… If you follow GRNC’s alerts, then you know that GRNC 4-star statesman, Rep. Larry Pittman (Cabarrus, Rowan), can always be counted on to stand for your gun rights. In fact, he not only stands for them, he takes strides to advance them, and advance a pro-gun bill is exactly what Rep. Pittman intends to do, with your help. Studies Show Studies by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), with respected researcher Dr. John Lott at its helm, have concluded that schools that allow educators and administrators to be armed are much (much) safer than their gun-free counterparts.  To read more about the CPRC’s study, click here. Incidentally, thanks to GRNC’s hard-working volunteers, NC’s House Republicans have been made well aware of this study and its results, so any legislator’s claimed ignorance of this truth is not viable. Help Rep. Pittman Help North Carolina Rep. Pittman intends to offer House Bill 216 (H216) (School Self-Defense Act), in its entirety, as an amendment to Senate Bill 5 (S5) (School Safety Omnibus), which is quite alive, but has just been sent back to the Rules Committee. We must encourage the Rules Committee members and other House Republicans to either allow a full hearing for H216 or to move forward with S5, with H216 as an amendment.  Note that the addition of language from H216 to S5 (or the passage of H216 by itself, in its entirety) would make school protection complete—entirely practical and most importantly: effective. The uniting of these two bills (or H216 alone) would be a great development, however, Rep. Pittman needs your help if this is to happen. Push Republicans in the Right Direction Below, see how you can easily contact the House Republican caucus to insist they do the right thing. To give them the push they need, please use the information provided below to send them a message.  (Note: GRNC will be tracking legislators' votes on this, and it will go down on their gun-rights record---for better or worse). Support "Rights Watch International" Learn more about Rights Watch International You shop. Amazon Gives. (What is Amazon Smile?)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

EMAIL THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE CAUCUS: Apart from a few reliable pro-gun statesman, the copy/paste email list(s) below will allow you to send your message to all House Republicans. For the message body, use the copy/paste text provided in the ‘Deliver This Message’ section, also below. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated. NC House Republicans Copy/Paste Email *Lists(s): Dean.Arp@ncleg.net; Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.net; John.Bell@ncleg.net; Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.net; Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net; Mark.Brody@ncleg.net; Dana.Bumgardner@ncleg.net; Jerry.Carter@ncleg.net; Debra.Conrad@ncleg.net; Kevin.Corbin@ncleg.net; Ted.Davis@ncleg.net; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.net; Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net; Jeffrey.Elmore@ncleg.net; John.Faircloth@ncleg.net; John.Fraley@ncleg.net; Edward.Goodwin@ncleg.net; Holly.Grange@ncleg.net; Destin.Hall@ncleg.net; Kyle.Hall@ncleg.net; Bobby.Hanig@ncleg.net; Jon.Hardister@ncleg.net; Kelly.Hastings@ncleg.net; Cody.Henson@ncleg.net; Craig.Horn@ncleg.net; Julia.Howard@ncleg.net; Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.net; Pat.Hurley@ncleg.net; Frank.Iler@ncleg.net; Steve.Jarvis@ncleg.net; LindaP.Johnson@ncleg.net; Brenden.Jones@ncleg.net; Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net; Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net; Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net; Allen.McNeill@ncleg.net; Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; Gregory.Murphy@ncleg.net; Larry.Potts@ncleg.net; Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net; Dennis.Riddell@ncleg.net; David.Rogers@ncleg.net; Stephen.Ross@ncleg.net; Jason.Saine@ncleg.net; Wayne.Sasser@ncleg.net; John.Sauls@ncleg.net; Mitchell.Setzer@ncleg.net; Phil.Shepard@ncleg.net; Carson.Smith@ncleg.net; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.net; Larry.Strickland@ncleg.net; John.Szoka@ncleg.net; John.Torbett@ncleg.net; Rena.Turner@ncleg.net; Harry.Warren@ncleg.net; Donna.White@ncleg.net; Larry.Yarborough@ncleg.net; Lee.Zachary@ncleg.net * Spam filters and the limitations of some email programs may require you to send this message to a smaller list of recipients. If necessary in your case, the above email list is conveniently split into multiple parts to allow you to easily send this message more than once—once to each list.

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: "Republicans Must Protect School Children Now"   Dear Representative, I’m delighted to have learned of the push to amend S5 (School Safety Omnibus) with the entirety of H216 (School Self-Defense Act). The uniting of these two bills would be a wonderful development and is exactly what is required to protect North Carolina’s school children in a practical and effective manner. I have also been informed that S5 has been sent back to the Rules Committee, which would allow for a committee hearing for S5 in the coming days. With the protection of the children in our state’s schools in mind, I must insist that one of two things occur: 1) H216, in its entirety, should be heard on the House floor and receive a vote; or 2) SB5 should be heard in the Rules committee, and H216 should subsequently be allowed as an amendment. Through the work of the Crime Prevention Research Center, with respected researcher Dr. John Lott at its helm, we now have unambiguous, academic studies showing schools that allow teachers and faculty to be armed are much, much safer than their gun-free counterparts. There is just no way around it, allowing adults who are on scene to protect their students in a practical, immediate manner is the only way to effectively save the lives of school children, should the worst occur. With this in mind, Representative, whose side are you on? I know which side I’m on, the side that puts children under an umbrella of genuine protection, an umbrella provided by the responsible adults who surround them. Our state’s school children must be protected. To make this good and proper sentiment a reality, I insist that you push for the uniting of H216 and S5, or a full hearing and vote for H216, that you vote for them in committee (where that may apply), and on the House floor, ultimately voting in favor of protecting school children. I've been informed that GRNC will be tracking votes on the amendment and on the amended bill. Of course, gun owners will also be watching, but perhaps most importantly, concerned parents will be watching. I’ll be monitoring your actions on this matter through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. Respectively,

NC Bill Allowing For Armed Teachers Makes Fox News

NC Senate Bill 192, the School Security Act of 2019, was introduced in the General Assembly last week. It would allow for teachers who have completed the Basic Law Enforcement Training program to become "teacher resource officers". They would get a bonus for serving as a teacher resource officer in addition to their normal teaching duties.

As the gun prohibitionists like to say about any gun control bill, "It's a good first step." However, in this case it is the first step in allowing some teachers to be armed in an effort to protect students. The BLET requirement is overboard in that it requires the teacher resource officer to be trained in many things that would be extraneous to actually protecting students. For example, there would be no need for a teacher resource officer to know anything about motor vehicle laws, law enforcement driver training, or traffic crash investigation. That said, it gets our foot in the door.

Retired NC teacher and USMC veteran Jean Fitzsimmons was interviewed on Fox and Friends First regarding arming teachers. Here is what he had to say. Kudos to him to him for getting up that early in the morning and for the mention of Grass Roots North Carolina.

GRNC Press Conference In Raleigh On Tuesday

The Demanding Moms can gets lots of turnout to their events because of stay-at-home moms, retirees, and kept women. Well, I don't know about the kept women part but I think the first two are pretty accurate.

Grass Roots North Carolina is holding a press conference in conjunction with Rep. Larry Pittman (R-Cabarrus) on school safety. They need - WE NEED - as many people who can to attend that press conference and especially teachers who want the ability to be armed to protect the school children under their care.

The full release is below:

PRESS CONFERENCE: SCHOOL SELF-DEFENSE ACT

Children will only be safe when adults are permitted to protect them … Tomorrow (Tuesday, 6/5), the sponsors of the “School Self-Defense Act” (HB 1039) will be publicly introducing the bill, and you’re invited. GRNC was involved in creating this bill as well as directing input to the offices of the Speaker and the House Rules Chair, and we’re excited about its introduction. This is GRNC's answer to all of the counterproductive, and worse, gun-grabbing "solutions" proposed by the left. More press conference details below. Parents and especially teachers, please attend this press conference Please RSVP using the following email address: directorofdevelopment@grnc.org Note: Signs are not allowed in the Legislative Building. Calling All Teachers and Parents It is very important that you attend this press conference. Seeing you there will help the General Assembly members recognize that the people are serious about this, and your presence may even help the politicians develop spines. Please see below for details.

PRESS RELEASE: LEGISLATION & PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS

Bill Provides Active Shooter Protection for Students Legislators herald introduction of House Bill 1039: “School Self-Defense Act” Press conference: When:  Tuesday, June 5 at 11:00 A.M. EDT Where: NC General Assembly, Legislative Building Rm. 1328, 16. W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC Who:    Representatives Larry Pittman, Michael Speciale, John Blust and Mark Brody To deter active shooter scenarios and better protect North Carolina students, North Carolina House Representatives Larry Pittman, Michael Speciale, John Blust and Mark Brody have introduced HB 1039: “School Self-Defense Act,” which is patterned after the Department of Homeland Security’s highly successful “Federal Flight Deck Officer” program and would: Create a “Volunteer School Faculty Guardian” program for full or part-time school faculty members who have concealed handgun permits and wish to carry firearms to protect students; Create an active shooter training program for School Faculty Guardians; and Allow school systems to “opt out" should they choose to do so. Teachers to speak out in favor of HB 1039: The June 5 press conference will allow an opportunity for teachers in favor of arming faculty members, whose voices have long been stifled, to be heard. Said GRNC president Paul Valone: “Too often, politicians have wrongly equated protecting school children with the loss of individual freedom. GRNC thanks these courageous legislators for promoting a solution, already operating successfully in Ohio and elsewhere, which will deter mass killings, allow volunteer faculty members to provide a last layer of defense for school children, and preserve our Constitutional liberties.”

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

EMAIL THE SPEAKER AND THE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN. Use the copy/paste details provided under 'Deliver This Message' to insist on a hearing for this bill. ATTEND TUESDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE: As soon as you can, please contact GRNC at this email address, directorofdevelopment@grnc.org, and let us know you're coming. More details below. This Tuesday, June 5, at 10:30 AM, meet GRNC representatives here: Legislative Building Room 1328 16 W. Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27601 A couple of notes: It’s probably best to arrive in Raleigh by 10:00 AM to make sure you find parking. Please “dress for the press.” Professional attire preferred. Firearms are not allowed on the grounds of the General Assembly. Signs are not allowed in the Legislative Building.

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Send to:  Tim.Moore@ncleg.net; David.Lewis@ncleg.net Suggested Subject: "The School Self-Defense Act Must Receive a Hearing"     Dear Speaker Moore and Chairman Lewis: I am writing to insist on a hearing for the "School Self-Defense Act" (HB 1039). I was quite elated when I heard that several courageous legislators have stepped forward to develop a practical and effective solution to the school safety issues we are currently facing. It's about time we stepped out of the endless cycle of rhetoric, and took actual steps to defend our children. This bill, HB 1039, does just that.  Due to the potentially imminent nature of this problem, time is short. Please do not position yourself as the one standing between school children and their safety. Rather, make sure the School Self-Defense Act receives a hearing immediately. NC Parents and Teachers need this, school children need it even more, and that's why I'm insisting on it. I will be monitoring your actions on this issue through alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina.  Respectfully,

"Armed Heroes in Teacher's Clothing"

My good friend, fellow blogger, and fellow podcaster Rob Morse spent several days recently training with a group of Ohio teachers in the FASTER (Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response) program.

He begins his post:

They don’t look like heroes, but they are. I spent several days with a group of Ohio teachers who want to protect their students. Most teachers feel the same way, but these extraordinary individuals did something about it. They took a training course. They learned to stop an armed attack in their schools. They learned to treat the injured. Rather than shelter in place and wait for the police and EMTs to save them, these teachers became the good guy with a gun and bandages. The training program is a success. The volunteer organization that trains teachers doesn’t have enough money to train everyone who wants instruction. These men and women do it for love and they need our help.

Read his full report here.

Colion Noir On Teachers Carrying Guns

Mr. Colion Noir is very good at stripping issues down to their basics. In this video released a couple of days ago, he discusses arming teachers. He notes the gun prohibitionists object to it due to possible accidents. He points out the contradiction of saying that mass shootings don't happen frequently enough to justify arming teachers yet calling for more gun control when a Newtown shooting does occur doesn't make sense.