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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced the Active Shooter Alert Act of 2024. This piece of legislation would appoint an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator within in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and create a program similar to the AMBER Alert System for law enforcement to alert the public to active shooters in their community. The Coordinator would offer support and best practices to local and state law enforcement to effectively implement active shooter alert systems.

"My own community of El Paso, Texas was targeted by a domestic terrorist on August 3rd, 2019. The shooter attacked a busy Walmart on a Saturday morning, when families were doing their weekend shopping ahead of a new school year. Despite the brave response from law enforcement to the scene, 23 people were killed and 22 others were injured. At least two victims were injured – one fatally – as they pulled into the parking lot after the shooter had exited Walmart because they were likely unaware of the ongoing threat. In the wake of this and other active shooter situations across the country, law enforcement and other independent review commissions have urged improvements in emergency communications systems and I’m proud to introduce that improvement today.”

A recommendation of a report on the December 2015 San Bernardino municipal building terrorist attack -- spearheaded by the National Police Foundation -- argued for “a version of a storm warning or AMBER alert system” to notify and update potential victims of an attack. Similarly, after the February 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, a public safety commission declared: “Our schools’ greatest vulnerabilities exist because of voids in basic security policies and strategies -- such as effective... communications/notification systems.

These resources would include guidance developed by subject matter experts, such as recommendations on making alerts in the vicinity of a shooter silent so the shooter is not alerted to those sheltered in place, or advice on what information is most effective to include in public alerts and how alerts should be sent. This program would be available for law enforcement to utilize on a voluntary basis to improve their system of letting civilians know to stay away and stay safe. 

The Congresswoman has long called for preventative and determinant legislation to reduce the negative impact of gun violence in our nation. This bill reaffirms a record of supporting life-saving mass communication during some of the most crucial and dangerous moments Americans face all too often. The full text can be found here.