Legislator wants armed guards at all Louisiana elementary schools
By: Josh Marcisz
Updated: January 18, 2013
For the second time in less than a month Louisiana District 3 House Representative, Barbara Norton, is announcing plans to introduce legislation she hopes will eliminate tragedies such as the December elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Norton's new legislation would require all elementary schools to have a tragedy plan in place in which active shooter safety drills would take place 3 to 4 times per year. The legislation would also require armed guards to be at every elementary school.
"I'm saddened to think that now is the opportunity to start protecting them rather than not protecting them all the time," says Norton. Last month the Representative announced her intention to draft a bill that would hold gun owners accountable for crimes if they fail to lock up their guns.
On Wednesday local law enforcement and school board members met with the Louisiana Homeland Security Committee in Baton Rouge. The purpose was to testify on the subject of school safety.
Caddo Parish Sheriff, Steve Prator, was present at the 5 hour meeting. Prator says he understands the push to make schools safer but cautioned the committee that armed guards won't prevent tragedies from occurring because schools often have multiple entrances.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office has been involved with Caddo schools for twelve years providing security officers for schools, and financial support for security cameras and safety training. "A lot of it is to respond to things and a lot of it also is to try and prevent things, but the truth of the matter is no one thing is going to prevent it," says Prator.
Norton says a Comprehensive School Safety Program introduced by the White House would help the state fund the need for new guards.
