2A/GUNS/MENTAL HEALTH/POLITICS: “Republican leaders in Congress have proposed a range of measures to boost funding for mental health and school security in the wake of the Parkland school shooting, following high-profile calls from gun-control advocates and vocal students.
The approach has been welcomed by states and school districts, which have for years unsuccessfully lobbied for increased federal spending to supplement dwindling local budgets. But it is unlikely to quell continuing calls for lawmakers to consider gun-control measures, which many Democrats say are needed to reduce future shootings.
The House plans to vote next week on a bill authorizing $50 million a year on school safety improvements, including violence-prevention training for teachers and students. A similar Senate bill, sponsored by 30 Republicans and Democrats, would boost school security spending by $1 billion over a decade… Republicans said security and mental-health measures would be effective, and that when it comes to guns, the current laws should be better enforced.”
-Michelle Hackman, “After Florida Shooting, GOP Pushes Funding for School Safety,” The Wall Street Journal online, Mar. 9, 2018 09:30am