UPDATE: Seattle School Board approves resolution supporting gun laws, March for Our Lives

12:19 PM: On the same day that students returned to class at the Florida high school where 17 people were killed two weeks ago, the Seattle School Board will at its “work session” meeting this afternoon/evening consider a resolution to go on record supporting gun laws and the nationwide march in support of them. The board –
led by president Leslie Harris, who represents West Seattle and South Park – will consider a resolution “to declare support for sensible gun safety legislation, declare opposition to efforts to arm educators in our schools, and declare support of the March for Our Lives on March 24, 2018.” The “sensible … legislation” is described in the resolution as:

• raising the age to purchase assault weapons to 21,

• implementing Enhanced Background Checks for Assault Weapons,

• banning the purchase and sale of “assault” or semi- automatic rifles and of any accessories designed to increase a gun’s rate of fire,

• establishing safety programs in schools that do NOT include arming educators or staff,

• eliminating private gun sale loopholes,

• providing funding for thorough gun violence research, including removing the prohibition on research and data collection by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC);

• supporting prevention, intervention and community re-entry programs that reduce community and gun violence; and

• increased funding for programs and school staffing (i.e. counselors, nurses, and psychologists) that support student mental health, social and emotional learning, and antibullying; and therefore be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Seattle School District supports legislation currently under consideration by the Washington State Legislature that would enact some of the above measures, including Engrossed Senate Bill 5992, Senate Bill 6620 and House Bill 3004; and therefore be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Seattle School District wholly rejects the misguided suggestion, advanced by President Donald J. Trump, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and some members of the Washington State Legislature, that it is either desirable or appropriate to arm teachers in schools for any purpose, and will maintain existing prohibition of firearms at school and will NOT support any effort to arm educators and staff; and therefore be it further

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Seattle School District wholly endorses and will
participate in the student-led March for Our Lives on March 24, 2018.

That march is planned to start on Capitol Hill and head to Seattle Center. Meantime, you can read the entire resolution in the agenda for tonight’s special “work session” meeting, which has other items including a budget discussion and a briefing on potential ways to “re-vision” high school starting in the 2019-2020 school year – see the full agenda here.

TODAY’S MEETING: Since it’s a “work session,” there’s no public comment period, but it’s open to the public, 4:30-6:45 pm at district HQ in SODO (3rd/Lander).

6:23 PM: The board approved the resolution, according to the SPS Twitter feed; here’s what was published on the district website.

MJ February 28, 2018 (1:37 pm)

Lets issue each teacher a gun (NOT) and this will solve the problem (NOT).

It is so sad we cannot even send our kids to school and feel safe.

Years ago I was in the Philippines and there parents let there little kids walk to and from school without fear, messing with kids is simply not tolerated there.

Simply raising the age to buy a gun to 21 and include back ground checks is very pragmatic. I do not understand the angst against this reasonable law?

Diane February 28, 2018 (2:02 pm)

years ago in this country all of us kids walked to and from school without any adults and without any fear; very grateful to see this action; TR, will you be there to report in detail?

Michael February 28, 2018 (2:42 pm)

And “years ago” it was even easier to buy a gun – you could even pick one up from the local hardware store. Mass shootings have risen exponentially since the 1960’s. What happened between then and now? Why is it overwhelmingly young males who commit these atrocities? Does the pharmaceutical industry have any remarks?
WSB February 28, 2018 (2:44 pm)

Probably not, given some other conflicts, but I suspect it will get regional coverage, as – just 10 minutes after I published this – the district’s media office sent out a media advisory saying that after voting on the resolution at the start of the 4:30 pm meeting, the board will temporarily adjourn the meeting and make a statement (along with a Ballard HS student who is the local March for Our Lives organizer) – TR

teacher/mom February 28, 2018 (2:11 pm)

This teacher and mom supports these sensible, rational, and clear resolutions and hopes that it will pass unanimously.

sg February 28, 2018 (2:46 pm)

MJ – While I don’t disagree with you on arming teachers, I must disagree with you about the Philippines. You can see via this chart that they have the 2nd highest mass shooter rate and one of the lowest rates for gun ownership.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/world/americas/mass-shootings-us-international.html?emc=edit_ta_20171107&nl=top-stories&nlid=56066587&ref=cta&_r=0 

WS Guy February 28, 2018 (7:38 pm)

Shouldn’t they include mass murder by the governments against their unarmed citizens in that chart? That would put China and Russia in an entirely different place.

MJ February 28, 2018 (5:37 pm)

I was referring to little kids only, and it was based on observation seeing little kids walking to and from school by themselves and talking with the locals.

RC March 1, 2018 (9:03 am)

Observation is one sided when you don’t see the whole country as a whole? Have you taking account what is happenings in different parts? Tondo, Metro Manila, QC, and other cities.. Go turn on TV Patrol and you see crazy stuff happening daily now and days..

N February 28, 2018 (9:56 pm)

I have been thinking . . . these thoughts & questions have come to mind,

Is 21 all that different from 18? The human brain is still developing until the age of 25 or so.

If a law abiding citizen can join the army & get married at the age of 18, why would they not be allowed to buy a specific type of gun until the age of 21? What changes when people are 20?

Troubled & bad people have done horrible things with other objects, not just guns.

I also wonder about mental health & social support networks in America, How can we improve the care given to our fellow Americans?

Wsres February 28, 2018 (10:25 pm)

What has changed since the 1960’s? I think people are generally more stressed by the overwhelming information we have access to, more households have to have two incomes to make ends meet, there are more stresses on kids (you may argue that there aren’t but there really is: higher expectations in schools, more testing, social media stress/smart phone stress, most kindergartens are not play based any more, more kids are in daycares at very early ages, kids aren’t as active in the outdoors). Access to guns is at an all time high since so many guns are now in people’s homes. A lot has changed since the 60’s.

Wsprayers March 1, 2018 (12:30 am)

Deep thinking and prayers for our society-our communities and homes…it’s is a stress filled environment I absolutely agree with wsres-even since the 80’s how much has changed from our school systems, expectations, family dynamics ,technology, morales /values, discipline, finances, sexuality, violence, media..,.its been so much so fast-really is overwhelming I have a 16 yr old who had to be in day care at 3 months old-the demands of working 45-50 hrs a week and taking care of a home and child plus add in the demand from school homework/testings…and the advancements in technology internet, computers, tv, video games ….not only engery from stress but energy as in electricity-and we stopped spanking our kids too…just personally experienced the don’t spank (I didn’t wish I did) generation-definitely pray and stand by efforts to protect and equip this generation coming up-and for the ones coming after them-we have to enforce control

CAM March 1, 2018 (6:45 am)

There is nothing that different between the 60s/80s or today. This isn’t a matter of morals or parenting. Let’s recognize that mass shootings have always been a problem. What has changed is their deadliness. This is because of a difference in the types of guns available and the accessories that have been made for them. What has also changed is the number of guns that people have. Some people are hoarding weapons and the government has taken no action to set restrictions around that. The NRA has also substantially changed their tactics and how they lobby in recent history. They use scare tactics to get people to believe that the government is going to storm their home and take their guns and they divide people and make them angry and hateful.

This isn’t about a failure of the younger generations and I take offense to the aspersions cast on youth in the above comments. Every generation looks at the younger generation and talks about how terrible they are. This happened when people were young in the 50s, 60s, 70s etc and I’m sure it happened before then as well. The failure in our society is how we repeatedly ignore these events and do absolutely nothing to prevent them from happening again, not that the younger generations are immoral and lack guidance.

Seattlite March 1, 2018 (9:02 am)

Are any WA state schools receiving federal funds for the PROMISE program? This is the program that enabled Cruz not to be arrested for his crimes and to purchase a gun! The PROMISE program allows teens that have committed crimes not to be charged, arrested as to lower arrest percentages…an insane, anti-discipline program. Any schools currently receiving federal $ for this dangerous program and instituting in their high schools need to be identified and stopped.

WSB March 1, 2018 (10:00 am)

Seattlite, please consider sticking to actual news sources – like this one:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-florida-school-shooting-runcie-interview-20180226-story.html
He was not part of it. And whatever it was, it was a program of that particular school district, not something outside Florida, therefore irrelevant here anyway.

Sorry, comment time is over.