Pierce County school district asks lawmakers to ban assault weapons, fund school safety measures

TACOMA, Wash. — When a state representative wrote to a local school district after the Florida shooting asking what's being done to keep kids safe, she got back an earful.

An email from the Franklin Pierce School District to a staff member of Rep. Joyce McDonald (R-Puyallup) obtained by KIRO 7, begins with "it's about time the Legislature took a heightened interest" and ends with a call to strongly consider an assault weapons ban.

The letter, written by Franklin Pierce Director of Communications William "Willie" Painter on behalf of superintendent Frank Hewins, says "Dr. Hewins, a veteran who has used assault weapons during his service, sees no rationale for any person outside of the military or law enforcement to have a 'personal safety' need to possess them."

The district's letter includes a list of twelve safety and security protocols taken by the district, such as surveillance systems, school security officers and an anonymous tip-line.

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The letter also said that despite all the district does for student safety, "we don't receive any dedicated, outside funding for the above efforts which is, in part, why there exists inequities and inadequacies among the state's 295 school districts in how they prepare and respond to safety/security concerns."

The letter made several suggestions, including a paid staff day, focused exclusively on safety and security, and capital appropriations to outfit all schools with systems to manage visitor access and add surveillance systems.

The district also suggested the legislature fully fund school resource officers and a statewide anonymous tip-line, as well as develop and implement a statewide threat assessment policy.

Last week, KIRO 7 filed a public records request with the state legislature to obtain the email, along with others between school districts in Pierce County and two more lawmakers, Sen. Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup) and Rep. Melanie Stambaugh (R-Puyallup).

On Friday, Sen. Zeiger and Rep. McDonald were among the legislators who voted to keep past legislative records secret.

Rep. Stambaugh voted against the bill.

On Monday, counsel for the House and Senate wrote back to KIRO 7 that "the three legislators involved have decided to provide you with all of the emails that you have requested."

Cox Media Group