SIA, ESA Express Support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) are part of a community of security professionals unified by the mission of keeping people and property safe. Following inexplicable and senseless school security tragedies that occur far too often in this nation, most recently in Uvalde, Texas, we commit ourselves to support reasonable initiatives to protect young children who simply deserve a safe place to learn. We recognize that that there is not a single solution to preventing incidents of school violence, but our nation clearly needs to do more.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is one such measure that deserves support in Congress.

Our members support a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to bolstering school safety and security. Modern, effective security infrastructure is just one of many essential components to a comprehensive approach to school safety – but it’s a critical one. When other prevention efforts fail, measures that address security vulnerabilities can help deter, limit and enhance the response to school violence.

We all agree that schools should be the safest places children can be – safer than any other environments outside of their homes. Yet many schools still struggle with the cost of meeting security needs, as well as effectively implementing the right policies and procedures that are critical to the effectiveness of any security measure. People, process, training and technology are complementary components of an effective school security and violence prevention strategy.

Among its provisions, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would increase assistance to schools investing in security improvements through the STOP School Violence Act by providing an additional $100 million for School Violence Prevention Program grants administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over the next five years. This vital program continues to receive far more qualified applications than can be awarded with existing funding. This legislation proposes a 40% increase over current funding levels, which will help address critical needs identified by school districts. As part of a coalition of parent groups and organizations from the education, public safety and solutions provider communities, we have long advocated for bolstering assistance through DOJ school safety grants.

We also strongly support the inclusion of the Luke and Alex School Safety Act within this bipartisan measure. Named in honor of Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter, two students killed in the 2018 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act codifies the multiagency clearinghouse of school safety best practices and resources provided at SchoolSafety.gov, bolstering this work and ensuring it continues to grow and improve. This clearinghouse provides critical resources for implementing balanced, holistic school safety programs across a range of topics from mental health to school climate and emergency planning. Within physical security, SchoolSafety.gov includes the PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools developed by the nonprofit Partner Alliance for Safer Schools. We strongly recommend that all schools and districts download and use these free guidelines as they develop, evaluate and seek the necessary funding to implement school safety programs.

In our view, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act takes meaningful steps that address both threats and vulnerabilities in our nation’s schools and communities. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation, which will make our schools safer and ultimately save lives.

Featured

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

  • Report: Cyber Attackers Continue to Turn to AI-Based Tools to Avoid Detection

    Comcast Business recently released its 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report, a comprehensive analysis of 34.6 billion cybersecurity events detected between June 1,2024 and May 31, 2025. Now in its third year, the report offers business leaders a unique perspective into the evolving threat landscape and provides actionable insights to help organizations strengthen their defenses and align cybersecurity with business risk. Read Now

  • Axis Communications Creates AI-powered Video Surveillance Orchestra

    What if cameras could not only see the world, but interpret it—and respond like orchestra musicians reading sheet music: instantly, precisely, and in perfect harmony? That’s what global network technology leader Axis Communications set to find out. Read Now

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.