Arizona School Safety: Governor Ducey Introduces Plan

PHOENIX, AZ – Governor Ducey has introduced a plan that he says will make schools safer by providing more school counselors and giving officials more ways to call attention to students that they believe may be potential threats. It does not offer a way to make it more difficult to get their hands on guns.

While the plan would allow law enforcement to seize weapons under certain circumstances, there's nothing in the plan that would prevent that person from buying another one.

What the plan does do:

• Investing in mental and behavioral health resources at schools
• Creating a central tip line for reporting school safety concerns
• Restricting firearms access for dangerous individuals through a Severe Threat Order of Protection (STOP)
• Enhancing background checks by improving the completeness and accuracy of the criminal history database
• Increasing school resource officers and law enforcement resources for schools
• Eliminating background check gaps

"Arizona can lead the nation in tackling the issue of school safety and the Safe Arizona Schools Plan is an aggressive approach that puts the safety of our schools and communities first," Ducey said. "This plan has been shaped by the lessons we’ve learned from past tragedies and by meaningful solutions we’ve heard from Arizonans across the state.

"School safety is a top priority for the entire state and we are committed to taking swift and decisive action to increase the safety of our communities."

Photo of the governor meeting with stakeholders on school safety via the governor's office.