Legislation would create school marshal program to protect kids

Jan. 31, 2013

By Katy Grimes

200px-U.S._Federal_Air_Marshal_Service_patch

SACRAMENTO — Planes have armed air marshals.  How about armed school marshals?

Last week Assemblyman Tim Donnelly told me about his plan to offer legislation to create a voluntary school marshal program, modeled after the highly successful air marshals program. Donnelly said the idea is to have teachers fully trained and qualified to carry concealed weapons, but not let anyone know which teachers have gone through the training. That way, potential killers would never know which teachers are armed, and which unarmed.

On Wednesday, Donnelly formally introduced Assembly Bill 202, which would create a school marshal program to ensure the safety of children in California’s classrooms. The proposal is not as sweeping as he originally intended but it grants power and decision making to local school districts and informs and educates people of existing law.

“We simply authorize use of existing general funds for additional training, and the designation as ‘School Marshal’ grants,” Donnelly said. “In light of recent tragedies involving violent intruders in our classrooms, we have a moral imperative to protect the children in our schools. We must do so without abandoning our oath and duty to safeguard the constitutional rights of every Californian. AB 202 will help us accomplish both.”

Recent tragedies spark reactions

Police_at_Sandy_Hook

President Barack Obama offered a 23-point gun control plan following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. But Donnelly said the president is politicizing the issue in order to impose an anti-Second Amendment agenda. Ironically, nothing currently proposed by the president would have prevented the tragedy, or any of the other recent attacks on innocent people. Donnelly said all the president’s plan will do is make it more expensive and more difficult for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Existing state law, the Gun Free School Zone Act of 1995, already authorizes local school districts to permit teachers to carry concealed weapons in the classroom if all requirements are met.

“We should be celebrating the incredibly heroic teacher, Vicki Soto, instead of focusing on taking guns away from citizens,” Donnelly said. While protecting students at Sandy Hook, Soto was killed. “In light of the incredible bravery and selfless heroism of teachers like Vicki Soto, it would be morally wrong to leave the next teacher confronted by a deranged killer defenseless. We should be holding criminals accountable, not guns.”

The co-authors of AB 202 include Sen. Steve Knight, R-Antelope Valley, and Assembly Members Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield; Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills; Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point; Brian Jones, R-Santee; and Don Wagner, R-Irvine.

“The bill will simply allow school districts to fund the necessary training to faculty and staff who are already legally allowed to protect their school,” Donnelly added.

Donnelly has filed papers to explore a run for governor in 2014. “I have decided to open an exploratory committee to run for governor of California, because there’s nobody out there fighting for us,” he told me recently.

20 comments

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  1. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 31 January, 2013, 11:01

    Bennett Kayser of the LAUSD Board was interviewed about this bill last night…..I think it was KNBC. His head exploded right there on TV……..lol

    Just from reading his bio it is readily apparent Mr Kayser is the prototypical leftist educrat.

    http://kayser.laschoolboard.org/biography

    — that he is a “tireless advocate for social justice” is mentioned several times….

    — He spearheaded efforts to require the City and its contractors to pay their workers at least a Living Wage. (Their capitalization, not mine.)

    — And of course he has to get his “diversity” badge: “Kayser represents a diverse district which extends from a northern boundary in Griffith Park east to East Los Angeles, then south to South Gate.”

    “Diverse”? That’s a load of bull. Knowing what I do of L.A., I can comfortably climb out on a limb and suggest that Kayser’s distict is at least 90%….and probably closer to 95% Hispanic. Any way you cut it, that’s not very “diverse”.

    (Just checked. 93.6% as of 09-10.)

    http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe

    Reply this comment
  2. Dyspeptic
    Dyspeptic 31 January, 2013, 12:05

    I can already hear the gasps of horror from knee jerk progressive Fascists over this idea. Although I realize the desire on the part of Republicans to offer some legislative alternative to the frenzy of gun grabbing on the left, it must be said that this is completely unnecessary.

    Mass shootings at schools are still rare and statistically anomalous events despite the impression to the contrary created by Big Media propagandists. There is very little in the way of cost-benefit payoff from such a policy. Besides, in the Peoples Republic of Crazyfornia it’s DOA, as is any hope for Tim Donnelly becoming governor.

    Reply this comment
  3. AB32 Fighter
    AB32 Fighter 31 January, 2013, 12:48

    Crashing planes into buildings is also a statistically rare event, but we’ve spent hundreds of billions on increased air travel security.

    Reply this comment
  4. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 31 January, 2013, 12:48

    Agreed, Dyspeptic.

    Something tells me Donnelly did this mostly to watch Progressive Fascists’ heads explode. Certainly a source of amusement if there ever was one.

    (If my original post ever gets “un-moderated” I provide an example.)

    Reply this comment
  5. Ted Steele, Navigator
    Ted Steele, Navigator 31 January, 2013, 13:31

    How can you guys be so consistently wrong?

    I am a progressive and I think this is a good idea.What could possibly go wrong? And it’s great to see a tea bagger spend gov funds. Just great.

    Reply this comment
  6. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 31 January, 2013, 14:08

    Silly Teddy……

    Actually, if this were done right, I don’t think anything WOULD go wrong.

    Nevertheless I don’t think we need to arm every schoolmarm. I think it’s all knee-jerk…..starting with the buffoonish Piers Morgan on down. (You wanna end racial strife? Stop hyper-sensationalizing everything about race. Same with guns.)

    And let me ask, Teddy…..that whole notion of “gun-free” zones? How’s that working out?

    Yeah, I didn’t think so.

    Reply this comment
  7. Hondo
    Hondo 31 January, 2013, 17:35

    I say, home school. Take your kids out of those union designed free kill zones they call our public schools. Most everything on the internet is free now. Bookmark the Khan academy.
    Problem solved.
    Hondo….

    Reply this comment
  8. Rex the Wonder Dog!
    Rex the Wonder Dog! 31 January, 2013, 21:09

    Guns and schools are like guns and booze, they don’t ix.

    Reply this comment
  9. The Modified Ted Steele Methodologies (tm)
    The Modified Ted Steele Methodologies (tm) 31 January, 2013, 21:53

    LOL Jimmydeeoc lol—- relax little buddy…like you said….if this is done right nothing could possibly go wrong! I agree—– lol—-what could possibly go wrong— trained volunteers in schools with guns and shoot to kill orders……I love this idea!!!! PERFECT……bwahahahaha———teabaggism at it’s finest!!!!!!! Does Beck or O’Rielly support this???? LOL

    Reply this comment
  10. jimmydeeoc
    jimmydeeoc 31 January, 2013, 22:55

    Teddy – you’re a child.

    So far now one here has suggested they are fully supportive of the idea.

    Reply this comment
  11. The Modified Ted Steele Methodologies (tm)
    The Modified Ted Steele Methodologies (tm) 1 February, 2013, 06:04

    No one but me is saying it’s great—– and of course 80% of the am radio/fox news crowd—- wake up Jimmy— your colleagues are dunces…..sorry man, not sayin yo are.

    Reply this comment
  12. SeeSaw
    SeeSaw 1 February, 2013, 09:14

    Donnelly is just another right-wing ideolog. This is an outrageously-stupid Bill.

    Reply this comment
  13. Marten Purdy the metroman
    Marten Purdy the metroman 1 February, 2013, 11:27

    Saturday Work Alternative Program:
    “Voluntary” Saturday detention that the school forces you to do (like cleaning desks, windows, chairs, computers, trash, etc.) as punishment instead of giving out suspensions. Its really not voluntary, but they say it is so they can get around child labor laws. Its usually about 4 hours long and starts at annoying times like 7 or 8 in the morning.

    Reply this comment
  14. NTHEOC
    NTHEOC 1 February, 2013, 12:32

    Well I’m not really for this but it has it’s positives. Adds Jobs,especially public sector! Possible increase in UNION membership! And authorizes the use of existing general funds for additional training, overtime!! Ok,I’m sold!!!!

    Reply this comment
  15. Rex the Wonder Dog!
    Rex the Wonder Dog! 1 February, 2013, 15:42

    Teddy – you’re a child.

    So far now one here has suggested they are fully supportive of the idea.
    ==
    Jimmy, you’re TOO kind to Tree Hugger Teddy 😉

    Reply this comment
  16. Marten Purdy the metroman
    Marten Purdy the metroman 2 February, 2013, 11:47

    I should be embarrassed that I’ve been to the school nurse 12 times already this year and it’s only October, but that’s not stopping me from going to see her again today

    Reply this comment
  17. Rex the Wonder Dog!
    Rex the Wonder Dog! 3 February, 2013, 02:35

    NTHEOC says:

    February 1, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    Well I’m not really for this but it has it’s positives. Adds Jobs,especially public sector!
    ==
    NTHEOC, I hope you’re kidding, or trolling, and NOT serious.

    Reply this comment
  18. Trisha
    Trisha 26 August, 2013, 18:16

    Hi, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your blog in Firefox, it looks fine
    but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!

    Reply this comment
  19. Roger
    Roger 27 August, 2013, 03:06

    Thanks for finally writing about > Legislation would create school marshal program to protect kids |
    CalWatchDog < Liked it!

    Reply this comment

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