Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994
The Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 (GFSA) was part of the
In 1994, Congress introduced the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, which encouraged each state receiving federal funds for education to follow suit and introduce their own laws, now known as
Criticisms
The Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 and the state laws passed in pursuance thereof "zero tolerance" laws, must afford the maximum amount of procedural due process to the student who are expelled for bringing a weapon to school.
Comparison
These laws have the potential of imposing strict and harsh punishment upon school children that are not dangerous and will only suffer detrimental results from a full year expulsion.[2] In addition, these laws do not prevent school violence. The shield for students offered by the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 stops the moment the line between school property and public property is crossed.[2] And in fact, there is no "shield" offered by the Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, as the Act does nothing to prevent a student or person who is committed to perpetuating a violent attack from bringing a weapon to a school with which to commit said violent attack. The act is not preventive but merely punitive. To violate the act, the weapon must be brought on to the schools grounds.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e 22 Am J. Crim. L 512 (1994-1995) S.O.S.—Saving Our Schools: The Constitiutionality of the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990; Martinez, Robert A.
- ^ a b c d e f g 20 Pace L. Rev. 133(1999-2000) Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994: Zero Tolerance Takes Aim at Procedural Due Process, The; Cerrone, Kathleen M.
- ^ a b American Secondary Education Vol. 29 No.2 (2000) Zero Tolerance Approach to School Violence: Is it Going too Far? Essex, Nathan L.