Washington D.C. — President Trump recently signed into law provisions authored by Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) to increase school security and protect students.
The Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018 includes Messer’s legislation allowing local schools to apply for matching grants to make physical and technological improvements to improve security.
“This is a major win to secure our schools and better protect our students,” Messer said. “Hoosiers get it. Targeting the Constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners is not the answer. I applaud President Trump for focusing on areas of consensus and delivering for Hoosier families, teachers and students.”
The $75 million matching grant program created by the STOP School Violence Act could also be used to train students, teachers, school officials, and local law enforcement for emergency situations. The bipartisan legislation also provides funding to improve coordination between schools and local law enforcement.
Messer recently visited Southwestern High School in his district, which has been called the “Safest School in America” because of its use of innovations like a direct camera feed to the county sheriff, real-time tracking, teacher panic buttons, bullet proof doors, and other innovations.
Messer said the school’s physical infrastructure, coordination with law enforcement, and school safety training for students, teachers and faculty can be used as a model for other schools across the nation.
“Right here in Indiana, Southwestern High School has gained a national reputation for school security,” Messer said. “More schools across America will now be able to follow this model to help keep our students safe.”
