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Senate OKs bill to curb armed students Some lawmakers call the proposal `feel-good legislation' Wire and staff reports SALEM -- The Oregon Senate unanimously approved a bill Monday that requires teachers to turn in students who bring weapons to school and allows those students to be held in custody for up to a week. The measure was inspired by the case of Springfield school shooting suspect Kip Kinkel, who had been caught with a gun at school and sent home with his parents. Within hours, he allegedly killed his parents at home and then opened fire at his school, killing two classmates and wounding 22. "This will add another layer of vigilance," said Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland. "I believe it will save lives." Under the bill, which moves to the House, teachers and school officials would be required to report a student who brings a weapon to school -- even if the incident took place as many as 120 days before. Those who bring weapons to schools could be held for as long as a week while a judge determines whether a mental health examination is needed or if the student should be held for a longer period. About four or five students bring weapons onto school grounds in Jackson County each year, said Alan Young, Jackson County juvenile facility director. He said that he agrees with the Monday's legislation -- as long as it remains flexible. "I think it's fine, but I think there needs to be some discretion in the law," Young said. Juvenile authorities need to do an assessment on every student who brings weapons to school after they have been arrested. He said they need to determine whether the student wanted to harm others or, for example, brought the weapon to school for protection. He noted that if the juvenile department held a student on a weapons charge for 72 hours, the department also would have to release some other offender. Jackson County juvenile detention can hold 20 youths. Medford schools superintendent Steve Wisely said the law really wouldn't affect the way his schools already deal with firearms -- or weapons of any kind -- on campus. Teachers already are supposed to report any student with a weapon on school grounds, he said. They refer the matter to police and have, in every case, expelled the student from school, he said. Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, the floor manager for the bill, said the law was just "feel-good legislation." Some senators questioned whether the bill is too broad. They said lawmakers should focus on programs to prevent juvenile violence. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA