Senator Bill Cassidy (R) - Louisiana
Senator Bill Cassidy and a bipartisan group of senators agree on a bill they say will curb the threat of school violence and preserve Second Amendment rights. Cassidy said because a majority of school shootings are committed by males ages 18 to 21, the bill allows for a more thorough background check because juvenile records are expunged.
“So that if somebody who is 18-to-21 who’s potentially got an issue, they get a little bit more time to do the background check and by doing that, if they need to, can filter back through, get a court order if they need to, and see what has happened in the past,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy said it can be done because two states already allow for this.
After the Parkland shooting in 2018, Cassidy said similar legislation was proposed but this bill strengthens the mental health component.
“If there is a student who’s being expelled from school or otherwise the school system sees that there is trouble, there is going to be increased referrals to mental health and a secondary referral to law enforcement if necessary,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy said not only will the bill hopefully prevent a rampage shooting but it will also help ongoing growing mental health concerns among young people.
“But it’s also to try and do something about the suicides, the addiction and the other issues that we’ve seen, maybe got worse during the pandemic, they’ve always been there though, but nonetheless try to address those as well,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy said the bill also allows for billions in mental health funding.
Comments