Governor Seeking Mandatory School Shooting Drills
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn has called for all of the state's schools to hold annual drills to help students prepare for the possibility of a school shooting.
It's a terrifying scenario. If there was somebody with a gun inside your kids' school, would the children know what to do? Would the teacher?
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, in the wake of the school shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., the governor has proposed legislation to require all Illinois schools to conduct school shooting drills.
"We cannot wait for another tragedy to happen before we take action," he said during his State of the State address in Springfield.
The measure was part of the governor's gun control package, which included proposed bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said all the city's schools already have plans in place for "an active shooter scenario."
Security guards have been specially trained for those drills, but nothing was said about actual drills involving students.
At King College Prep High School, there was hunger for something like that from students, parents, and staff.
Physics tutor Steven Waruhiu said, "I believe it's a good idea, because the students need to know how to react to situations, if they ever arise."
Student Domonique Walker said, "You have to be aware, and I'd rather them know how to react, than react the wrong way, and still get themselves hurt."
Parent Mark Scarborough said he worries about his son's safety at school.
"Most definitely. … You drop your kid off and you expect them to be safe throughout the day," he said.
But some King students said they worry more about the dangers they face outside the building than inside.
"I don't feel safe around this neighborhood at all," said Cathy Taylor.
It was in a nearby park in the Kenwood neighborhood, after all, that King honor student Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed last week.
A little over a week ago, at Cary-Grove High School, students were locked in their classrooms as police performed a security drill, and two shots were fired in a hallway with starter pistols. Some parents said it was going to far to fire shots inside the school as part of the drill.
