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Oklahoma lawmakers work to make schools safer for children

A new study put on by a teacher turned legislator will look into what laws could help.

Oklahoma lawmakers work to make schools safer for children

A new study put on by a teacher turned legislator will look into what laws could help.

? >> STATE REP JACOB ROSECRANTS SAYS HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM SCHOOL AND SECURITY EXPERTS TO SEE WHAT BILLS CAN BE PASSED TO ADDRESS ANY VULNERABILITIES PHYSICAL OR NOT. >> TO SEE WHAT WE’RE ALREADY DOING WITH OUR SCHOOLS, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL SECURITY, WHAT’S WORKING, AND WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER, MAYBE BY LOOKING AT OTHER STATES AS WELL. >> AS A FORMER TEACHER IN OKLAHOMA CITY, STATE REP JACOB ROSECRANTS IS FAMILIAR WITH SCHOOL SECURITY. >> WE HAD METAL DETECTORS, AND WE HAD FENCING, BUT IF SOMEONE WAS DETERMINED ENOUGH, THEY COULD GET PAST THESE THINGS. >> SO, THE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE WANTS TO FIND WAYS SCHOOLS CAN SECURE THEIR CAMPUSES BETTER. HE STRESSES MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT THE THREAT, RATHER THAN JUST DETER IT. >> THIS IS ALL ABOUT PREVENTION, SO I WANT TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN DO BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS IN OUR SCHOOLS. >> SCHOOL SAFETY, LIKE ALL ISSUES, HAS BECOME A PARTISAN DEBATE BUT WITH MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE STUDY, ROSECRANTZ IS HOPEFUL POLITICS WON’T GET IN THE WAY. SO BECAUSE OF THIS DON’T EXPECT , RESTRICTIONS ON FIREARMS TO COME OUT OF THIS STUDY. >> LET’S JUST BE HONEST, I’M PRAGMATIC, IF THERE’S ANY KIND OF BILL THAT HAS SOME TYPE OF GUN SENSE, THAT’S GOING TO HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE HERE IN OKLAHOMA. >> THEY EXPECT TO PRESENT THIS STUDY TO LAWMAKERS AND CAPITOL STAFF
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Oklahoma lawmakers work to make schools safer for children

A new study put on by a teacher turned legislator will look into what laws could help.

Oklahoma lawmakers said they are working to make schools safer for children. A new study put on by a teacher turned legislator will look into what laws could help. It said shootings around the country serve as a reminder that more can be done to keep schools safe.State Rep. Jacob Rosecrants said he wants to hear from security and school experts to see what bills can be passed to address any vulnerabilities, physical or not."To see what we’re already doing with our schools. When it comes to school security, what’s working, and what we could do better, maybe by looking at other states as well," Rosecrants said.As a former teacher in Oklahoma City, Rosecrants is familiar with school security."We had metal detectors, and we had fencing, but if someone was determined enough, they could get past these things," Rosecrants said.So, the Democratic representative wants to find ways schools can secure their campuses better. He stressed more needs to be done to prevent the threat, rather than just deter it."This is all about prevention, so I want to actually take a look at what we can do, what our schools can do better when it comes to having licensed professional counselors in our schools," Rosecrants said.School safety, like all issues, has become a partisan debate but with members of both parties involved in the study, Rosecrants is hopeful politics won’t get in the way. So, don’t expect restrictions on firearms to come out of this study."Let’s just be honest, I’m pragmatic. If there’s any kind of bill that has some type of gun sense, that’s going to have an uphill battle here in Oklahoma," Rosecrants said.The expectation is to present the study to lawmakers and Capitol staff sometime in September or October, ahead of the bill filing period for next year’s session.

Oklahoma lawmakers said they are working to make schools safer for children.

A new study put on by a teacher turned legislator will look into what laws could help. It said shootings around the country serve as a reminder that more can be done to keep schools safe.

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State Rep. Jacob Rosecrants said he wants to hear from security and school experts to see what bills can be passed to address any vulnerabilities, physical or not.

"To see what we’re already doing with our schools. When it comes to school security, what’s working, and what we could do better, maybe by looking at other states as well," Rosecrants said.

As a former teacher in Oklahoma City, Rosecrants is familiar with school security.

"We had metal detectors, and we had fencing, but if someone was determined enough, they could get past these things," Rosecrants said.

So, the Democratic representative wants to find ways schools can secure their campuses better. He stressed more needs to be done to prevent the threat, rather than just deter it.

"This is all about prevention, so I want to actually take a look at what we can do, what our schools can do better when it comes to having licensed professional counselors in our schools," Rosecrants said.

School safety, like all issues, has become a partisan debate but with members of both parties involved in the study, Rosecrants is hopeful politics won’t get in the way. So, don’t expect restrictions on firearms to come out of this study.

"Let’s just be honest, I’m pragmatic. If there’s any kind of bill that has some type of gun sense, that’s going to have an uphill battle here in Oklahoma," Rosecrants said.

The expectation is to present the study to lawmakers and Capitol staff sometime in September or October, ahead of the bill filing period for next year’s session.