Wendi Thomas, the Republican candidate in the May 15 special election in the 178th Legislative District, released a set of legislative initiatives regarding mass shootings and school safety
By Tom Waring
The Times
Wendi Thomas, the Republican candidate in the May 15 special election in the 178th Legislative District, released a set of legislative initiatives regarding mass shootings and school safety.
Thomas favors funding for mental health and mental rehabilitation services with monies focused on treatment; requiring background checks on all gun sales — long arms and pistols, including private sales; tuition tax credits for those who enter the mental health field and stay for five years; implementing “Red Flag” legislation that — with due process protected — allows family members or law enforcement to ask the courts to temporarily remove firearms from a person who poses a danger to themselves or others; better integration of the national and state background check systems to help further ensure firearms are not sold to those who are prohibited from buying them; providing immunity for teachers, medical professionals and the general public for reporting potentially troubled individuals to law enforcement; protecting victims of domestic violence by changing state rules regarding Protection From Abuse Orders by requiring immediate relinquishing of firearms rather than the 60 days allowed under current law; funding for school security; and a ban on accelerated trigger activators (such as bump stocks) and high-capacity magazines.
“As a mom, as a community member, and as a member of the Council Rock School Board, I share the concerns of local residents over mass shootings and keeping our children safe,” she said. “School safety is not a ‘new’ issue to me. As a school board member, I have been involved in detailed discussions over school safety with residents, parents, teachers and administrators. I am proud that by building consensus and taking concrete steps, we have helped make Council Rock safer for every student. In fact, a national media outlet recently named Council Rock in the top 5 percent of all of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts for student safety thanks to the steps we have taken.”
Thomas faces Democrat Helen Tai and the Green Party’s Adrienne Taffoni Morgado. ••
