GOP Congressman Introduces Repeal Of Gun-Free School Zones Act

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is calling for a repeal of the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 in order to make it easier for trained and vetted teachers, school staff, and security personnel to be able to carry firearms in order to fend off would-be mass shooters at schools and college campuses.

The Gun-Free School Zones Act, which was put in place by President George H.W. Bush, bars the possession of firearms in a “school zone.” Critics of the legislation, including Rep. Massie, have long argued that the legislation only makes schools defenseless and vulnerable to mass shooters.

“My Safe Students Act, HR 5066, would repeal the dangerous Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, ending the default federal policy of making schools soft targets,” Massie posted on X. “HR 5066 would make it easier for state governments and school boards to unambiguously set their own firearm policies.”

School safety advocate Hunter Pollack — whose sister, Meadow, was murdered in the Parkland shooting — stressed that the vast majority of mass shootings have happened in gun-free zones while speaking with Florida’s Voice.

“The gun control debate has been going on way longer than I’m alive, and potentially even longer than you’ve been alive. So after Meadow was killed, my family decided, let’s do what’s practical. Let’s harden out schools, let’s work on fixing the mental health crisis that is in Florid. And let’s work with law enforcement officers to make sure they have the right training and to hold officials accountable who failed my sister that day,” Pollack said.

“So gun control is not going to fix this problem. In fact, 92 percent of mass shootings happen in gun-free zones. I think we need to get rid of gun-free zones,” he went on to say. “Not saying, you know, you should be able to bring a gun into a school or something if you’re not permitted to. But by getting rid of gun-free zones, I mean getting rid of the signs that says, ‘this is a gun-free zone,’ because it’s like pretty much telling a mass shooter to walk right in because no one’s there to defend the kids in the school.”

Gun Owners of America endorsed Massie’s legislation in a social media post Saturday. “Congress needs to abandon the failed federal gun-free schools policy & arm willing teachers instead!” the post reads.