New Law Inspired by Parkland Victim to Require Panic Alarms in New Jersey Schools

New Law Inspired by Parkland Victim to Require Panic Alarms in New Jersey Schools

Alyssa's law requires all New Jersey schools to install silent panic alarms that will alert law enforcement officials of an emergency.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • February 12, 2019

Nearly a year since the tragic Parkland, Fla. mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the parents of a teenager tragically killed are pleased to see a piece of bipartisan legislation that could aid in the safety of students signed into law under their daughter's name.

Alyssa Alhadeff was killed in the rampage on MSD High School on Feb. 14, 2018. Since then, her parents, Lori and Ian have worked tirelessly to identify a multitude of changes in schools that could have protected their own daughter.

On Feb. 6, 2019, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed Alyssa's Law/A764. Alyssa's Law is a piece of bipartisan legislation crafted to alert law enforcement officials of an emergency. The law requires "all New Jersey schools to install silent panic alarms that will alert law enforcement during emergencies such as an active shooter, or to employ an alert native emergency mechanism approved by the Department of Education." To be installed after the tenth month of its passing, the law will demand that both primary and secondary schools install panic alarms that activate an inaudible alarm and emergency light.

Alyssa's parents get particularly strongly about acting on communication devices that make deaths on campuses preventable. Alyssa was shot ten times on the day of her death, but not all the shots were fired at once. The shooter entered the school and shot Alyssa form outside her classroom, left and then returned again firing the final shots that led to her death. 

There was no where for Alyssa, or her classmates to go, and no way for them to immediately communicate with their school or law enforcement. Lori and Ian believe installing silent panic alarms on campuses could make the difference.  

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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