Sanford Cosponsors Make Schools Safe Again Act

Statement

Representative Mark Sanford has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 5400, the Make Schools Safe Again Act, which was introduced by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI). This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Education or the Attorney General from authorizing agreements between schools and law enforcement agencies that encourage the non-reporting of students' criminal activities.

Rep. Sanford released the following statement:

"If there is a crime, police should be informed; simple as that. In the wake of the Parkland shooting, it was discovered that students, teachers, and relatives alike - not to mention strangers on the internet - knew that the shooter was a ticking time bomb about to go off. However, he was rarely reported to authorities, even when he was expelled for bringing weapons to school.

"This lack of reporting and communication means that potentially violent and troubled students slip through the cracks. The focus shouldn't be on protecting criminals. Indeed, the focus should be on ensuring that students can grow up and learn in a safe environment. This bill gives local police a better idea of what's going on in their communities, which could help reduce violence in our schools."

Following the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, it was reported that Broward County Public Schools had an explicit agreement with local law enforcement agencies not to arrest students or even to refer them to the proper authorities, if they were involved in criminal misconduct or misdemeanors.

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