Stop Congress From Expanding School Searches

Dear Friends:

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is asking for your help to stop a bill that would further curtail the rights of students in public schools all across the country. The so-called Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006 (H.R. 5295) would make it easier for teachers and school administrators to search students lockers and bags for drugs and other contraband. SSDP needs your help to make sure that this bill never becomes law.

Currently, in order for a teacher to search a students locker they need to have reasonable suspicion that the student is in possession of illegal drugs. H.R. 5295 would change the standard needed for a search to colorable suspicion, a term that has been made up entirely for this bill. Essentially, a teacher would need nothing more than a hunch in order to search a students locker or possessions.

This bill is nothing more than another attack on the constitutional rights of young people by the federal government. Students should never have to check their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse door.

Please take two minutes to send a letter to your member of Congress asking him or her to oppose H.R. 5295. SSDP has created a pre-written letter that you can easily send by visiting http://capwiz.com/mobilize/issues/alert/?alertID=8779706

If you can afford it, please consider making a financial contribution large or small to SSDPs efforts to beat back the governments Drug War attacks on young people at http://www.ssdp.org/donate/

Thank you for taking action to stop this drastic bill. SSDP will continue to keep you informed of our efforts to stop this dangerous piece of legislation from becoming law.

Regards,

Kris Krane
Executive Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy