Bill Overview
Title: Safe Students Act
Description: This bill repeals provisions of federal criminal law that prohibit the possession or discharge of a firearm in a school zone.
Sponsors: Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in the educational sector (students, teachers, school staff, and parents)
Estimated Size: 200000000
- The bill affects laws regarding firearm possession in school zones, which directly impacts students, teachers, and school staff who spend time in these zones.
- Parents and guardians will also be affected as they are concerned with the safety of their children while they are at school.
- There are approximately 1.5 billion students globally (from K-12 to tertiary education) according to UNESCO.
- Millions of teachers and school staff around the world will be indirectly affected by changes in gun legislation affecting school zones.
- Parents and guardians constitute a substantial portion of the population, given the average family size globally.
Reasoning
- The Safe Students Act changes the federal laws surrounding firearms in school zones, which will directly impact those who spend significant time in these areas including students, teachers, and school staff. Moreover, parents are likely to have strong opinions given their concern for children's safety.
- To ensure a balanced understanding, interviews should cover individuals directly affected, such as those working in or attending schools, as well as parents of school-aged children.
- Given the constraints that the policy has zero budget allocation, the potential effects are predominantly regulatory, altering the legal landscape without direct financial incentives or supports.
- The interviews will encompass a range of demographic and social perspectives, reflecting both gender and age diversity, varied roles within the education system, and an array of geographical locations.
Simulated Interviews
High School Principal (Boston, MA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am deeply concerned about the safety implications of this policy change.
- Allowing firearms in school zones makes me worry for my students and staff.
- Even if well-intentioned, the presence of more guns could lead to tragic accidents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Parent (Dallas, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a parent, my foremost concern is the safety of my children during school hours.
- This policy feels like a step backward in ensuring a safe learning environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
College Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 20 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about how this might affect my future workplace safety.
- It's hard enough to focus on teaching without worrying about firearms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In my opinion, local communities should decide what's right for their schools.
- There may be contexts where more protection is warranted, but I'm apprehensive about generalizing this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this move might undermine trust within the school environment.
- Removing these restrictions could signify a disregard for the safety of both students and staff.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Gun Rights Advocate (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fully support the right to carry firearms anywhere, including school zones.
- This policy is a good first step in restoring those rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
School Security Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change complicates my job significantly.
- It's hard to imagine how this could lead to a safer environment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 5 |
Retired Police Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think more weapons lead to more mistakes and potential harm.
- Strategies focusing on prevention and mental health should be priorities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
College Student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My peers are mostly against this change, valuing our safety over gun rights in school zones.
- It's become a rallying point for further activism in our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Non-profit Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're worried this makes our job harder, working against the trend of reducing gun presence in sensitive areas.
- Education and advocacy might need to double to maintain a sense of safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $-5000000, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Safety concerns and public sentiment regarding firearms in school zones could influence state and local policies and security spending.
- The reduction in federal enforcement costs may not directly translate to significant national savings but could relieve certain judicial and law enforcement resources.
- Potential changes in school zone security measures may have other cost implications, though these are typically outside federal budgeting.