Representative Crenshaw Introduces Protect Our Schools Act.....

Washington, D.C. - Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced the Protect Our Schools Act of 2023 last week to implement a series of defensive barriers and other measures designed for schools to prevent mass shooting incidents.

Bodiam Castle in East Sussex, shown here with its protective moat, did not experience a mass shooting during the 14th century 

"These school shootings are tricky," Crenshaw explained. "They are random, unexpected, and unlike criminal activity which can be targeted and prevented through law enforcement. There is just no obvious factor they all share and that could be addressed with some kind of common sense legislation that a majority of Americans support. It's so frustrating. Ugh!"

The bill would focus on improving the defensive capabilities of the nation's more than 130,000 schools. As an increasing number of child educational facilities have experienced attacks, many continue to rely only on locked doors and plans to hide or take cover from assailants. More than 99% of schools don't have a moat, and the small number that do have a body of water at least partially surrounding the buildings where children can be found aren't maximizing its ability to hinder an assault. 

"A moat is a deep ditch surrounding a facility that can be left dry or filled with water," Rep. Crenshaw revealed. "A variety of obstacles or deadly underwater creatures, such as sharks, piranhas, or electric eels, can be added to a moat in order to increase its ability to protect our kids."

Crenshaw and his Republican colleagues in Washington have raised concerns that the Biden administration is failing to secure schools. According to the Congressman, the Protect Our Schools Act would provide teachers and school administrators with the necessary resources and tools. "The best offense is a good defense, but there is also a time to fight. This bill would fund the placement of an infantry platoon in every school, so if the moat is breached, any would-be shooter would be staring down the barrel of two M240 machine gun teams and two close-combat missile teams armed with Javelin missiles."