Georgia Republican leader seeks policy changes after school shooting but Democrats want more
Georgia’s state House speaker says lawmakers in 2025 will consider new policies after a school shooting killed four at a high school northeast of Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's state House speaker says lawmakers in 2025 will consider new policies to foster student mental health, detect guns and encourage people to safely store guns after a school shooting killed four at a high school northeast of Atlanta.
But Republican Jon Burns of Newington is stopping short of Democratic demands that include universal background checks, a mandate to safely lock up guns and a “red flag” law letting the state temporarily take guns from someone in crisis.
The proposals made Thursday by Burns are the first policy response to the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.
“While House Republicans have already made significant investments to strengthen security in our schools, increase access to mental healthcare, and keep our students safe, I am committed to not only continuing this work but pursuing additional policies that help ensure a tragedy like this never happens in our state again,” Burns wrote.
