Christie vetoes school panic alarm bill

In June, the New Jersey legislature voted to approve a bill that would have required every public school in the Garden State to install panic alarms and emergency lights. Wednesday night, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the legislation.

Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Belleville), one of the measure's sponsors said he was stunned by the governor's decision.

"What I wanted to see was some quick action based on disturbing shootings that have gone on around the country," Caputo said. "Panic alarms are commonplace for banking institutions, so why not our schools? Also they have them in toll booths. They have panic alarms in toll booths on the (Garden State) Parkway and the (New Jersey) Turnpike to protect our money."

Under the vetoed bill, schools would have had to install the panic alarms that, when pushed, would silently and electronically notify police while simultaneously activating an outdoor emergency light to alert the public that something was going on inside the school building. A portion of bond proceeds from the Economic Development Authority would have been used to pay for installing the equipment.

"The proposal raises important issues concerning school safety that are best addressed by the body of education and law enforcement professionals that make up the School Security Task Force, whose charge is to study, among other issues, the efficacy of the installation of panic alarms in school buildings," wrote Christie in his veto message.

The School Security Task Force was officially created Aug. 16, 2013.

"When are they going to do it? What are they waiting for? I don't get it. He (Christie) really let us down on this one," Caputo said.

In his veto message, the governor also said he cares deeply about the safety of students, but questioned if panic alarms in schools is the best mechanism to protect them.