House School Safety Bill Wrong Approach to the Problem

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the STOP School Violence Act:

“Today’s House vote is a major disappointment. Legislation that should increase safety restrictions and limitations on gun purchases has instead become a ‘school safety’ bill that, while well-intentioned, will not address our gun violence epidemic. We don’t need the appearance of safety. We need real solutions to mass gun violence. Children deserve to go to a safe, high-quality school, but militarizing schools will only harm our children, especially children of color and children with disabilities. Congress should go back to the drawing board and pass the gun safety legislation that people in America actually want.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.