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The 2019 session of the Indiana legislature is over, and anyone looking for meaningful action to address the rising tide of school violenceis disappointed. Hoosiers are painfully aware of two Indiana school shootings last year, in Noblesville and Richmond. What people may not know is that since the Noblesville shooting, there have been at least 20 instances where a juvenile in Indiana has either brought a gun to school or unintentionally shot someone. Noblesville Stands Together was formed by parents frustrated that society struggles to find answers for these events. We quickly learned there are no easy answers, but three things are implicated: building security, mental health and guns. Guns are a divisive, polarizing topic, and we have no interest in furthering the culture wars. We only care about protecting our kids. But the inescapable truth is that all school shootings, by definition, involve guns. We must protect the Second Amendment and keep guns away from dangerous people. So how did Hoosier policymakers respond? Following the Noblesville shooting, after the customary dispensing of thoughts and prayers from many leaders, Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a report containing a host of recommendations.Our group immediately pointed out this report failed to provide any suggestions on guns. There were, however, numerous recommendations to improve access to mental health treatment and better security in school buildings. Legislators rushed to deliver on hardening schools– better doors, windows and technology. Even medical kits to stop wounded children from bleeding out. This is low-hanging fruit, relatively free of political risk. They checked the box. But what about the hard stuff? Even though the governor's report contained the words “mental health” more than 100 times, the legislature largely rejected these proposals. Reps. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, and Anthony Cook, R-Cicero, as well as Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, who are also educators and law enforcement

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