After a series of controversial active shooter drills in California schools in which a masked man used a fake gun, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill to restrict how these drills are conducted across the state.
Assembly Bill 1858also known as the Safe and Prepared Schools Act, will standardize active shooter drills in schools and call on the state Department of Education to update its guidelines. Newsom signed the bill last week; it enters into force on January 1.
“The Safe and Prepared Schools Act will ensure that we do not do more harm than good as we train our students to be ready in the event of these unfortunate tragedies,” Assemblyman Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), the law’s author, said in a press release. “At the same time, school staff will have clear guidance on how to implement these exercises in a responsible and professional manner so that we do not create more anxiety and traumatize our students.”
Earlier this year, a San Gabriel elementary school principal made headlines after using her fingers to mime holding a gun and pretend to shoot childrentelling them, “Boom. You’re dead.”
Cops too planned to shoot subjects at San Marino High School to mimic the sound of gunfire, but the drill was canceled due to fears of traumatizing students.
AB 1858 requires schools to notify parents of active shooter incidents no more than one week before it will take place and immediately after it occurs. The measure also requires schools to make a school-wide announcement that a drill is about to start, make drills age-appropriate for students and provide post-drill resources to address any concerns raised by students and parents, while prohibiting the use of simulated gunfire.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention organization, recommends against active shooter drills, saying they are associated with an increase in depression, stress, anxiety and physiological health problems among students, teachers and parents.
The organization notes that while only 0.2% of gun deaths occur on school grounds, at least 40 states require active shooter drills in their schools.