Dear supporter,
With the end of the year fast approaching, we are thankful for your support of Stand with Parkland – The National Association of Families for Safe Schools.
It has been a busy year. Here are a few key highlights:
- We attended the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Hearing on H.R. 8 "The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019" in February, and supported its passing by the full House.
- We met with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and other senators on Capitol Hill to discuss holding a hearing on Extreme Risk Protection Orders (also known as "red flag laws") in February. In March, we were invited by Senator Graham to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee on "red flag laws."
- We endorsed the Eagles Act, as it was introduced in the House by Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) in July. The same bill was first introduced in the Senate by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in April 2018 and then refiled in the 116th Congress with bipartisan support. This legislation, named for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagles, will expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) with a greater focus on school violence prevention.
- We testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs to make schools safer in July. Our treasurer Tom Hoyer and one of our founding members, Max Schachter, called for more funding for school security, federal research of school threat assessments, better sharing of information between law enforcement and other agencies, and discussions of "red flag laws."
- We supported Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) in his introduction of the TIPS Act, which directs the FBI to share threat tips it receives with local law enforcement to help ensure action is taken. This is an effort to correct one of the many failures that occurred prior to the Parkland school shooting.
- We traveled the country with the U.S. Secret Service promoting their new report analyzing targeted school violence. The National Threat Assessment Center has developed ways to proactively assist communities and school administrations spot a troubled person and get them help before an attack occurs.
But as we push for progress, we continue to be heartbroken by mass shooting events across the nation. There is a dire need for all Americans to come together to prevent school violence and save lives.
Next Tuesday, December 3, is Giving Tuesday, an international day of charitable giving where anyone, anywhere can make a difference. Stand strong against violence in America’s schools. Stand with Parkland this Giving Tuesday and help support our work on behalf of American families.
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While we have accomplished so much this year, there is clearly more work to do. We will continue to advocate for school safety reforms with elected leaders on both sides of the aisle and on all levels of government to enact policies that will help keep students and staff safe at school.
-- Stand with Parkland
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