Latest news with #JamesLomax
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Huntsville lawmaker says he will support bill requiring parents to lock up guns
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — After a gun went off in a second grader's backpack at Challenger Elementary School last week, an Alabama lawmaker is looking for ways to make sure students are safe while they are at school. Rep. James Lomax said he plans to support a bill introduced in the Alabama legislature this month that would put more responsibility for gun safety on parents. Alabama agriculture, forestry rake in billions every year: report 'This was a real scare,' Lomax said. 'This was this was a near-miss, so I think we're lucky that that it wasn't worse. But, I think they're concerned about what we're going to do going forward.' HB 103, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, would create a criminal penalty for parents whose child is found to have a gun on a public school campus. If a student brings a gun to school from home, parents would have to prove the weapon was 'reasonably secured' in something like a lockbox or gun safe. Otherwise, they could face a Class A misdemeanor. Lomax said concerned parents brought the bill to his attention. 'On reviewing it, I said, look, this is a parent responsibility bill,' Lomax said. 'This is a school safety bill. This is something that I absolutely need to put my name on, even if I have got to go across party aisles.' Lomax also helped secure a $10,000 grant for other security measures. 'My understanding was that they have a really good plan, but some of it hadn't been implemented yet,' Lomax said. After the incident, Huntsville City Schools increased the number of security personnel and put in place an Evolv weapon detection system that students have to walk through when they get to school. Lomax said he hopes the grant money can speed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Huntsville Rep. voices support for bill holding parents responsible for kids bringing guns to school
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Representative James Lomax is voicing his support for a House bill that will add criminal penalties to parents of students who bring guns to school. The press release follows an incident at Challenger Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 6, where a gun went off in a student's backpack. PRIOR REPORTING: Firearm goes off in second grader's backpack at Challenger According to Huntsville City Schools, the incident happened as students were in the hall getting ready to leave school for the day. HCS said the incident happened at around 2:45 p.m. HCS said that the bullet struck another student's bookbag, damaging the student's laptop. Besides the student experiencing some ringing in their ear, no other injuries were reported. Lomax said parents should be responsible for their children's use of firearms, including making sure they are secured so that children cannot get into them without adult supervision. My understanding is that Huntsville City Schools has responded to this incident by accelerating atimeline to install Evolv Weapon Detection Systems at the school and that additional securitypersonnel will be on site. I'd like to commend the Huntsville City Council on approvingadditional security measures within Huntsville City Schools this past December and lookforward to those measures going into full effect. Rep. James Lomax 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. He added that a $10,000 grant has been secured to install 'security devices' at CES. The school said on Friday there will be additional security measures in place such as the following: Increased Security Presence: Extra security personnel will be on-site. Enhanced Screening: All students will pass through an Evolv weapon detection system upon entering the building. Emotional Support: Counselors will be available to provide support to any student who may need it. 'As the father of two young daughters, I want to iterate that schools should be a place wherestudents feel secure enough to learn. We must all do the work today to provide for a brightertomorrow,' concluded Lomax. Lomax represents District 20, which covers Southeast Huntsville, Jones Valley, Hampton Cove and Monte Sano Mountain. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
