After one of America’s deadliest school shootings on record, California’s Senate has voted to end mandated reporting for students who threaten violence.
Previous to this vote, any time a student “attacked, assaulted, or physically threatened” a school official, that official was bound by law to report it. After the Senate vote on Thursday, this requirement was wiped from the books.
ACLU California Action endorsed the new law and called it a “win for racial equality,” evidentially, however, also a win for school shooters and a loss for innocent school officials and children.
“Once students make contact with law enforcement, they are less likely to graduate high school and more likely to wind up in jail or prison. These harms fall disproportionately on students from marginalized groups: Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students,” ACLU California action said in a statement.
It almost seems as if the Bills sponsor, State Sen. Steven Bradford watched the massacre in Texas unfold and wondered how exactly he could loosen rules to make it easier for Californians to do the same. American schools need to be secure, threats need to be investigated.
“Our existing system has led to alarming disparities in the type of students who are most likely to suffer these harms. Black students, Latinx students, students of color, and students with disabilities are disproportionately referred to law enforcement, cited, and arrested.” He said.
