|
Stop Dangerous New Student Search Bill
A dangerous bill, H.R. 5295, would make it dramatically easier for school officials to conduct mass searches of students. House leadership has bypassed the committee process in order to help the bill's sponsor with his reelection campaign, and it will be taken to the House floor on Tuesday, 9/19. Because of the special procedure (called "suspension") we only need to get 1/3 + 1 of the votes to defeat it.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Please vote NO on H.R. 5295, a dangerous bill that would severely weaken the civil liberties of our young people. H.R. 5295 -- which has not been vetted by the committee process -- would make it far too easy for school officials to conduct or request mass searches of students when only one or a few students are suspected of anything. The infamous Stratford High School raid in Goose Creek, South Carolina, showed that the kind of approach this bill would encourage can be dangerous as well as overreaching and abusive. H.R. 5295 goes too far -- please respect the spirit of the Constitution by rejecting it when it comes to a vote under suspension this Tuesday, 9/19. Even if you're not sure if you want to oppose the bill, I hope you'll oppose enacting it in this way -- this bill is controversial and potentially hazardous, and it should be fully examined by a committee before going any further.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The nation was shocked in November 2003 by the infamous Stratford High raid, in which Goose Creek, South Carolina, police stormed a school hallway with guns drawn as they ordered nearly 150 cowering students to the floor, cuffing those who complied too slowly, causing a national furor as graphic videos from high school security cameras were shown repeatedly on national network television news programs.
Though the school district along with police have paid over $1.6 million dollars to settle a lawsuit brought by the victims, a bill in Congress, H.R. 5295, would make it dramatically easier for schools to engage in abusive mass searches. House of Representatives leadership -- reportedly to help the bill's sponsor with his reelection campaign -- have bypassed the committee process and brought the bill forward under "suspension," a procedure in which Congress must take an up or down vote with no opportunity for amendments.
Because suspension requires a 2/3 vote for a bill to pass, our chances of defeating the bill are good. It's scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, 9/19. That means your letters and phone calls to Congress are needed NOW. Please use this web site to send an e-mail -- take a moment to customize the form letter to increase your impact!
When you're done sending this e-mail, please call your Rep's office on the phone to express your opposition to H.R. 5295 more strongly. Use our legislator lookup page and click on the "view info" link for your US Representative to get the phone number, or call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.