Rep. Arlene Beckles Participates in ‘Stop School Shootings’ Film Premiere in Duluth

ATLANTA - State Representative Arlene Beckles (D-Norcross) recently joined Director Dr. William L. Sheals, cast members and guests at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth, Ga. for the red-carpet premiere of "Stop School Shootings," a new film from William L. Sheals (WLS) Films hosted in partnership with Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Norcross.

"A panic button tells you a tragedy has started, but it does not tell you it was coming" said Rep. Beckles. "The people who can see it coming are counselors, teachers, coaches and adults who know a kid's name. Right now, we do not have enough of them, and no alert system in the world fixes that. I am grateful to WLS Films for making this movie and to Hopewell for bringing it home to our district. Now comes the part where we legislate."

Rep. Beckles notes that "Stop School Shootings" is a film about prevention, not violence. Through the experiences of students, parents, teachers and counselors, she says the film highlights behavioral changes, social withdrawal and other warning signs that can precede tragedy. Created with mental-health professionals, school-safety experts and survivor communities, the film seeks to encourage communities to recognize warning signs, intervene early and help ensure every child feels safe at school.

Rep. Beckles further notes that school safety legislation has been introduced and enacted in Georgia in recent legislative sessions.

House Bill 268, known as Ricky and Alyssa's Law, was passed during the 2025 legislative session following the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. The law requires that by July 1, 2026, every public school in Georgia have a mobile panic alert system connected directly to 911 and first responders. It also requires school districts to maintain standardized digital campus maps for first responders, establish behavioral threat assessment teams, transfer student disciplinary and behavioral records when students change districts and provide annual suicide awareness and youth violence prevention training for students in grades six through twelve.

During the 2026 legislative session, the House passed House Bill 1023, which would have required weapons detection systems at all main points of entry at Georgia public schools, along with a $50 million grant program to help districts pay for the equipment. HB 1023 did not receive final passage and was not signed into law. House Bill 973, the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, signed into law in March 2026, increases school security funds by $550,000 for an emergency response system pilot program at five schools.

"What comes next is verifying that every school in the state complies with House Bill 268, that panic alert systems are installed and working, that threat assessment teams are staffed and trained and that campus maps are current and in the hands of first responders," added Rep. Beckles. "I also intend to press for weapons detection legislation to return during the 2027 legislative session, with funding that does not leave the bill for local districts. Current laws also do not close the gap in addressing the shortage of school counselors and mental health staff, and I look forward to working to find solutions to these issues in the upcoming legislative session."

Rep. Beckles adds that streaming of "Stop School Shootings" will start Sunday, October 20, 2026, and will be available at WLSFilms.net.

Representative Arlene Beckles represents the citizens of District 96, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Special Rules, State Properties and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.

###