Bill seeks to address mass violence prevention

A group of legislators recently co-sponsored legislation that seeks to prevent mass violence acts.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) recently joined U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) in detailing the EAGLES Act.

The bill, officials noted, is named for the mascot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of a 2018 mass violence incident, and would expand the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) to include increased concentration on preventing targeted violence that includes school violence.

“No child should feel unsafe in the classroom, and it is imperative that we take action to ensure that schools are a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and staff,” Collins said. “This legislation would improve research and training to prevent targeted violence, including threats to schools. This is one of many commonsense steps that we can take to help protect our communities.”

Legislation provisions, per proponents, include NTAC reauthorization and expansion, establishing a national program on targeted school violence prevention, expanding the Center’s research and training on school violence, and dissemination of information on school violence prevention initiatives.

“Our country has seen far too many acts of violence,” King said. “Americans deserve to live their lives safely—at school, at grocery stores, at concerts, at places of worship, the list goes on. The EAGLES Act is a simple, commonsense, important step to stop mass violence before it happens and keep communities safe from these tragedies. This bill will build on the National Threat Assessment Center track record of success and empower them to share their vast information resources wider to prevent future threats.”