Goodin dismayed as House GOP rejects plan to make Indiana schools safer

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House Democratic Leader Terry Goodin from Austin today issued the following statement after Indiana House Republicans rejected an effort by House Democrats to require schools across the state to provide training to react to an active shooter situation:

“Today, the Indiana General Assembly had the chance to send a clear message that we will do everything we can to try and prevent tragedies that have taken place in locations like Parkland, Florida, from being repeated here.

“An amendment offered by State Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) to Senate Bill 65 would have required each school in Indiana to provide annual training on reacting to an active shooter.

“The idea here was simple. In these chaotic times, it makes sense to try and give our children some idea what they can do if they are faced with this kind of life-threatening situation. We have training to teach us what to do in the event of tornadoes and fires. Why can’t we be equally prepared in the event a shooter is going through the halls of our schools?

“We believe we are duty-bound to protect our children in any way we can.

“But the House Republicans rejected our efforts. They wouldn’t let us even conduct a vote on Rep. Pelath’s plan.

“How is this telling our children that we don’t want them to live in fear each day they go to school? How is this keeping our children safe?

“It has been truly sad to see the kinds of priorities that have been advanced this session. So far we have seen issues like protecting our children take a back seat while we celebrate letting people buy alcohol on Sundays as a major achievement. What kind of a message are we sending to the people of Indiana?”