U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is renewing efforts to repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, legislation he argues leaves schools vulnerable to mass shootings by preventing properly trained staff and security personnel from carrying firearms.

The Gun-Free School Zones Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, prohibits the possession of firearms in designated “school zones.”

Supporters of the law have long maintained it is necessary to protect students, but critics, including Massie, contend that the policy has instead created soft targets for attackers.

Massie introduced the Safe Students Act (HR 5066), which he says would address the issue by eliminating federal restrictions and allowing state governments and school boards to determine their own firearm policies.

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“My Safe Students Act, HR 5066, would repeal the dangerous Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990, ending the default federal policy of making schools soft targets,” Massie posted on X.

“HR 5066 would make it easier for state governments and school boards to unambiguously set their own firearm policies.”

The congressman’s push to end the law has drawn support from gun rights organizations and school safety advocates who believe repealing the federal prohibition would deter would-be shooters.

Hunter Pollack, whose sister Meadow was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, spoke with Florida’s Voice about why he supports ending gun-free zones.

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“The gun control debate has been going on way longer than I’m alive, and potentially even longer than you’ve been alive. So after Meadow was killed, my family decided, let’s do what’s practical. Let’s harden out schools, let’s work on fixing the mental health crisis that is in Florida. And let’s work with law enforcement officers to make sure they have the right training and to hold officials accountable who failed my sister that day,” Pollack said.

Pollack added that statistics point to gun-free zones as being disproportionately targeted in mass shootings.

“So gun control is not going to fix this problem. In fact, 92 percent of mass shootings happen in gun-free zones. I think we need to get rid of gun-free zones,” he said.

“Not saying, you know, you should be able to bring a gun into a school or something if you’re not permitted to. But by getting rid of gun-free zones, I mean getting rid of the signs that says, ‘this is a gun-free zone,’ because it’s like pretty much telling a mass shooter to walk right in because no one’s there to defend the kids in the school.”

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Gun Owners of America, a prominent gun rights advocacy group, endorsed Massie’s legislation over the weekend.

In a post on social media, the organization said, “Congress needs to abandon the failed federal gun-free schools policy & arm willing teachers instead!”

Massie has introduced similar measures in past congressional sessions but has continued to face opposition from gun control advocates and Democratic lawmakers who argue that expanding firearms in schools would increase risks rather than prevent them.

The Safe Students Act now moves into consideration as Congress weighs broader school safety and public security policies.

For Massie and his supporters, repealing the Gun-Free School Zones Act represents what they see as a crucial step toward allowing schools to implement stronger, locally controlled defenses against potential attacks.

This isn't the first time Massies has pushed for ending Gun-Free zones.

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