Upton introduces bipartisan bill to create federal active shooter alert system

With active shooter incidents straining local and state law enforcement, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) on Feb. 1 unveiled bipartisan legislation that would create a system to alert communities about such incidents taking place. 

“As we have seen over the years, there is no place exempt from mass shootings,” Rep. Upton said on Tuesday. “Whether it’s folks going to worship, kids at school, or, as we tragically saw here in 2016, a man driving an Uber right here in Kalamazoo murdered six people and wounded two more.” 

The Active Shooter Alert Act of 2022, H.R. 6538, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), would appoint an Active Shooter Alert Coordinator within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to oversee an Active Shooter Alert Communications Network. U.S. Reps. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) joined Rep. Upton as original cosponsors of the bill.

If enacted, the appointed DOJ coordinator would offer federal training, technical support and best practices to local and state law enforcement to improve or implement active shooter alert systems, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Upton’s office, which said the program would be available for law enforcement to utilize on a voluntary basis.

The coordinator also would work with the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secretary of the U.S. Department Of Transportation, and the chairman of the Federal Communication Commission in carrying out various activities under the bill, according to the text of H.R. 6538.

“The Active Shooter Alert Act will give local authorities more tools to provide accurate real-time information to the community,” said Rep. Upton. “I’ll continue to seek solutions by listening to local law enforcement, community leaders and our school officials. The stakes could not be higher.”

H.R. 6538 is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Associations, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Police Foundation, and the National District Attorneys Association.