March 31, 2023 4:00 a.m.

On Thursday, Oregon House Republican members called for the withdrawal of several bills from committees that they claim could have helped create safe schools for students.

State Representative Virgle Osborne of Roseburg said only one bill with a Democratic chief sponsor passed. He said every other bill was blocked by House Democrats.

Thursday afternoon Osborne released a statement that said, “To say I am frustrated by the actions of Democrats is an understatement – I am furious. House Bills 2223, 3354, 2704, 3261,3350, and 3101 were critical bills to address the severe safety gaps in our schools”.

Osborne said the bills would have required the Department of Education to provide funding for school resource officers and study the possibility of hiring retired police officers to provide school safety. He said in addition, they would have required the installation of metal detectors should a school district pass a policy outlawing concealed weapons on school grounds, as well as the installation of one panic alarm in every school building.

Osborne said, “Today’s votes are proof that my Democratic colleagues are not interested in any proven or alternative solutions to make our children safer; they will entertain nothing less than stripping away the rights of every single Oregonian”.