After Series of Tragic School Shootings and Scares at NYC Area Schools, Schumer Calls for Passage of Key Legislation and Massive Federal Mobilization to Stem Rash of Violence, Protect the Million of Kids at NYC Schools

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Four Shootings in Last Eight Days Have Rattled Nation -Six Students Tragically Killed at Northern Illinois University Thursday Schumer-Backed Bill Would Devote Desperately Needed Resources to Help Schools Beef Up Security, Improve Communications, Create New Training Programs To Help Students and Teachers Spot Trouble Schumer Calls for New Joint Dept. of Education/DOJ Task Force to Devise

In the wake of the devastating shootings at Northern Illinois University on Thursday that took the lives of six young students and three similar incidents at high schools and colleges in just the last week, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called for immediate federal action to stop the violence and prevent another copycat attack from occurring at New York City schools or any school around the country. Schumer will announce his push for comprehensive college and high school safety legislation that would create a joint Department of Education and Justice Department taskforce to devise national school safety guidelines. The legislation, introduced by lead sponsor Barbara Boxer of California , would set aside desperately needed resources for schools in New York and across the country to help them beef up security, improve campus emergency communication, and implement training programs for students and teachers so they can spot violent students before they strike.

"This rash of violence has shaken the nation to the core and has us all nervous about when and where the next attack may be," Schumer said. "The federal government has sat on the sidelines for too long and let violence at our high schools and colleges go completely out of control. We need a full scale national effort to stem the flood of violence and ensure that our campuses are as safe and secure as possible. This plan will finally give schools the resources they need to beef up security and upgrade emergency communication and response plans to make sure that everyone does what they are supposed to do when the worst happens."
Thursday's shooting was the fourth at a U.S. school in just the last eight days. More than nine people have been killed in these acts of violence and dozens injured. On Thursday, Stephen Kazmierczak, 27, a former graduate student at Northern Illinois University, stormed into a crowded auditorium with a shotgun and three handguns and shot and killed five students before killing himself. In the process, he shot and wounded more than a dozen others. In recent days, Kazmierczak had become erratic after stopping medication he had been taking. He had purchased two of the four weapons used in the shooting only a week previously.

The shooting comes on the heels of a series of other tragic school shootings within the previous week:

On Tuesday, February 13, a 15 year-old was shot by a fellow student outside a bus stop on the campus of McNair High School in DeKalb County , GA. The victim survived.

On Monday, February 12, 14-year old eighth grader in Oxnard , CA shot a fellow 15 year-old eighth grader in the head in an apparent sexual identity-related hate crime. The victim has been declared brain dead, and the shooter has been charged with attempted murder.

And on February 8, a woman gunned down two students at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge .

"These gross acts of violence, taking place in daylight at a supposed place of sanctuary, are parents' worst nightmares," Schumer added.

In the wake of these tragic shootings, Schumer today called for a massive federal effort to swiftly curb the violence and ensure that no similar attacks ever happen in New York City. Schumer said campuses in New York City are some of the safest in the country, but there are many steps we can still take to keep the millions of students in New York safe. The legislation includes:

Up to $50 Million to Beef Up Security, Improve Emergency Communication, and Train Students and Teachers to Spot Trouble - Schumer today called for immediate passage of the The School Safety Enhancements Act. The bill would overhaul the Secure Our Schools program, which is currently administered by the Department of Justice through the COPS program. The legislation would devote up to $50 million in federal money to help schools improve security. The money specifically would go toward new surveillance equipment, tiplines/hotlines, student and teacher training programs and capital improvements.

Federal Safety Task Force - The legislation would also create an inter-agency task force between the Justice Department and the Department of Education to develop and publish a national set of school safety guidelines. Schumer said it is vital to finally bridge the gap between law enforcement and schools by requiring more joint consultation and coordination during

*Immediate Congressional Hearings - Schumer today also said he is planning to ask for first ever Congressional hearings in to the links between mental illness and school violence. Schumer said that it, in order to get to the root cause of the attacks, we need to address mental illness on college campuses.

"When it comes to protecting schools and communities, we need to be tough on crime and smart on prevention," Schumer said. "Students must be able to focus on learning, not fretting about safety. Unfortunately, far too often, schools have to rob Peter to pay Paul by taking away funding from education programs in order to keep our schools safe and secure."

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