A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California reveals a significant portion of Californians, including public school parents, are in favor of deploying armed police officers on school campuses to safeguard students.
The poll indicates that 35% of adults are in strong support, while 36% somewhat support the initiative. Conversely, 17% somewhat oppose, and 11% strongly oppose the presence of armed officers in schools. Notably, the support is more pronounced among parents of public school students. The survey gathered responses from approximately 1,600 adults, including 279 public school parents.
As reported by American Military News, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, who has introduced AB 68a bill advocating for armed school resource officers at all California schoolsexpressed no surprise at these findings. "I talk to people all the time who say we need, you know, better security at our schools, right? I wish it werent the case," Gallagher stated. His commitment to this cause dates back to the 2017 shooting at Rancho Tehama Elementary School, located in his district. Gallagher believes that the presence of an armed officer could have mitigated the impact of that tragic event, as well as a subsequent shooting at Feather River Adventist School.
Despite the evident public support, AB 68 faces legislative hurdles. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat and chair of the Committee on Education, opted not to schedule a hearing for the bill this year, effectively rendering it a two-year bill. Muratsuchis office contends that Gallagher withdrew the bill due to time constraints for a hearing this year.
The debate over school resource officers is contentious, particularly among those advocating against gun violence. Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization focused on reducing gun violence, argues that "School Resource Officers (SROs) dont stop school shootings, but research has shown that SROs can harm students in various ways, including criminalizing typical youth and teen behavior."
The issue of school safety remains a pressing concern, with approximately 70% of adults expressing apprehension about the potential for a school shooting in their local area. As the conversation continues, the balance between ensuring security and addressing the broader implications of armed officers in educational settings remains a complex challenge for policymakers and communities alike.
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