Words cannot begin to express the shock and sadness felt throughout the Commonwealth and around the country on Tuesday when an active shooter opened fire at my alma mater, Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, taking two innocent students’ lives and injuring 18 others. It was a senseless act of violence committed by another student that we cannot even begin to understand. We can only pray that this act somehow strengthens the Marshall County community and the state of Kentucky as a whole. I offer my sincerest condolences to all the friends, families, teachers, and students of Marshall County in this most difficult time, and I pray that those students still undergoing medical treatment make a full recovery.
Governor Bevin and I flew to the scene immediately following the news of Tuesday’s tragedy. There, I met with local leaders and have remained in communication with them in an effort to respond to any needs the community might have. We recognized the victims on the Senate floor on Tuesday and Governor Bevin ordered the State Flag to half-staff until Tuesday, January 30, in memory of those students who were tragically lost. Tragedies like this one remind us just how precious the gift of life is, so keep your loved ones close in this time of grieving in the Commonwealth.
Daily agendas were packed for the fourth week of the 2018 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly as we heard bills in committees and passed them on the Senate floor.
This week marked the first bill to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 3, also known as Marsy’s Law, was passed by the full House on January 24. The bill, which establishes more protections in the judicial system for victims of crimes, is a constitutional amendment that will be placed on November’s ballot for voters to approve. Through this bill’s legislative journey, members of the Senate and the House heard compelling testimony from advocates and lawmakers alike on the need for this law, and I was proud to vote for it in the Senate. When Marsy’s Law appears on your ballot in November, I encourage you to support the measure.
The Senate passed a number of bills this week beginning with Senate Bill (SB) 71. This bill allows health educators to teach abstinence as the best method to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Opposition to the measure tried to paint this bill as preventing other sex education from being taught, which is simply untrue. Abstinence will be taught alongside other methods of STD and pregnancy prevention, and SB 71 will not inhibit the freedom of educators to teach these other methods. We also passed SB 56 which reorganizes the members of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to better serve its constituents without government interference.
I was also honored to have Mr. Cletus Poat, Dr. Joe Ellis, Hannah Ellis, and Dr. David Jaco join me on the Senate floor this week.
As we continue to pray for Marshall County, I would also like to thank our first responders who put their lives on the line every day to ensure the public’s safety. Without them, many of these tragic situations could be much worse. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the people of my district and of this state for your response to this horrific event. This week, hug your friends and family and thank a first responder. We are Marshall Strong!
If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov<mailto:danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov>. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.