GA Senate committee debates school safety measures to curb gun violence after Apalachee High School shooting

Georgia lawmakers debated what safety measures can be implemented at schools across the state to reduce gun violence in the aftermath of the shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.

Members of the Georgia Senate Safe Firearm Storage Study Committee on Thursday discussed what should be done to prevent more school shootings, as there is now an increased sense of urgency to address safety concerns following the shooting on Wednesday, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

"When it comes to these bills, we are trying to put up safeguards to make it, whether you are a bad actor or have a mental health issue either way, we can make it difficult for you to have a weapon in Georgia," Democrat state Rep. Yasmine Neal said at the committee meeting.

Four people were killed, and nine others were wounded in the school shooting on Wednesday. The suspected shooter, identified as 14-year-old student Colt Gray, was taken into custody and charged with felony murder.

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The two students killed in the shooting were identified as Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, while the two adults killed were identified as Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie.

The Georgia Senate committee is now considering what new measures can be added to curb gun violence while at the same time protecting the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"The human mind, we never know what's going to happen one day to the next, but we can control that weapon, we can secure it, and we can lock it up," said Democrat state Sen. Emanuel Jones, who chairs the committee. "We can hold those who own that weapon responsible for the use of that weapon. There are things that we can do."

The committee highlighted that Georgia lawmakers earmarked additional funds for security at schools last year, and this funding included money for school resource officers.

"The thing we need to figure out, the nut we haven't been able to crack, is how do we get to these youngsters that are going into schools and shooting them up," Republican state Sen. Frank Ginn said.

A spokesperson for the group Georgia Moms for Change, Sarah Walker, appeared emotional while speaking at the committee meeting as she called on state lawmakers to take action to help put an end to gun violence in schools in the Peach State.

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"The thought of sending a child to school and never seeing your child again is a uniquely American nightmare," Walker lamented. "Thoughts and prayers are good, and necessary, and needed, but legislation, policy is going to fix the problem that we have."

The shooting suspect's father, Colin Gray, 54, faces multiple charges over the alleged actions of his son, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children. Authorities said the elder Gray knowingly allowed his son to possess a weapon.

Roquan Smith takes exception to Chiefs player who pushed him on sideline after play: ‘Better watch himself'

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith had a warning postgame for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Peyton Hendershot after a confrontation on the sideline Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. 

During the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs to kick off the new NFL season, there was a moment early in the fourth quarter where Kansas City’s star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was scrambling to pick up a first down. 

After doing so, it appeared Smith pushed Mahomes late, and the quarterback went sprawling to the turf, which led the home crowd to start going ballistic thinking a penalty should’ve been called. 

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However, the yellow hankies stayed in the referee’s pockets. Smith, who was waving his hands at the moment to signal it shouldn’t be a personal foul, said Mahomes tried to sell it as a penalty.

"Oh, he flopped. Yeah, he flopped," Smith told reporters post-game. "That’s why the referees didn’t call it – it was a great no-call by the ref."

But as Smith was waving for the no-call, Hendershot, who was in street clothes as an inactive player for the Chiefs during the game, was seen taking exception to Smith’s actions on his quarterback. 

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The broadcast showed a moment where Hendershot appeared to shove Smith, and the linebacker confirmed it after the game with a message as well.

"But, whoever [number] 88 is, I don’t know who he is, but he better watch himself," Smith said. "He did a little slick push."

Reporters quickly questioned Smith again to confirm what happened, as he also seemed to turn around after Hendershot pushed him on the Chiefs’ sideline, leading to a scrum before the tension dissipated. 

"Whoever No. 88 is, I have no idea who he is, but I’ll see him when I see him," Smith concluded before taking another question. 

The Chiefs would go on to score on that drive, as rookie Xavier Worthy picked up his second career touchdown on just his third touch of the football in his NFL debut, a 35-yard score due to blown coverage.

Smith’s personal stat line was a solid one, as he led the Ravens in tackles with seven (four solo), while picking off Mahomes late in the first half as well. He did, however, have a horse collar tackle on his first action of the regular season when trying to take down Rashee Rice. 

The Ravens ultimately fell to the Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, in tragic fashion as it appeared they had a chance to tie, or even win, the game after tight end Isaiah Likely caught what looked to be a touchdown on the final play of regulation. However, Likely’s toe was an inch out of bounds.

Since these are not division foes, the Ravens won’t be seeing the Chiefs again until a potential playoff matchup like they had in the AFC Championship Game earlier this year. 

If and when that does happen, Smith was very clear that he’ll be seeing Hendershot after having problems with his actions in Week 1. 

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