By Javier Manjarres
North Carolina Republican Congressman Mark Meadows has introducing the NRA supported “Protect America’s Schools Act” which was first received bipartisan support over a decade ago from President Bill Clinton, who got the program started with a $60 million investment.
Florida Congressmen Tom Rooney and Ted Yoho have also announced that they will be supporting bill, Rooney to be listed as an original cosponsor.
“Putting more uniformed officers in schools is the one step we can take that we know will deter violent actions and protect our children. This is common sense. I’ve talked to the sheriffs in my district, and they’re either already putting uniformed officers in schools, or they want to do so but can’t afford it. Refunding the Cops in Schools program will give local law enforcement officials the resources they need to keep our children safe.-Rep.Tom Rooney
Do you think the 2nd Amendment will be destroyed by the Biden Administration?(2)
Congressman Meadows cited a recent Gallup poll that found that over 50% of Americans believe that an increased police presence would act as an significant deterrent to possible future tragedies like the one that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut-
“I support the Protect America’s Schools Act because local police forces are best equipped to protect our communities. Criminals are unpredictable, and our highly-trained police forces can protect our children where laws on the books simply cannot.
“This bill is a step in the right direction because it is offset by unused funds. It is voluntary and places responsibility in the hands of local authorities. This measure is uniting Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, and I’m proud to support it.”-Rep.Ted Yoho
So how is this program going to be funded? Meadow is saying that the $30 million need to pay for this program will come from the untapped funds already allocated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Meadows went on to state that in 2012, “the House voted to fund NOAA at $4.9 billion,” and he believes that “this agency can spare $30 million to assist in the protection of our nation’s children.”
Democrats in Congress have scoffed at the NRA’s position that there needs to be more guns in schools. Wayne LaPierre stated the NRA would lead an “effort to examine what it would take to place armed security officers in every school under a National School Shield Program.”
“I call on Congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation-Wayne LaPierre
Congressman Meadows’ Communication Director, Lisa Boothe, stated that this bill was not influence at all by the NRA, adding that the concept and eventual bill “organically” took a life of its own solely within their congressional office. Booth also said that everything came together after Congressman Meadows returned from his district, having spoken to numerous local officials, superintendents, teachers, and law enforcement officials who support the measure of adding more police officers to schools.
