Friday, September 21, 2001
Friday, September 21, 2001 |
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Starr's Mill students grill Seabaugh about government security plans By JOHN
MUNFORD
Given the opportunity to toss questions at state Senator Mitch Seabaugh, it was obvious what was on the minds of many students at Starr's Mill High School Wednesday morning the repercussions of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. One student asked about security measures that were taken in Georgia. Another asked what security measures will be forthcoming. Seabaugh, who serves on the Senate's Public Safety Committee, said he received information that Atlanta was indeed a target of the terrorists, particularly Hartsfield International Airport and the offices of the Centers for Disease Control. Another student asked what role government will play in enhancing airline security. Seabaugh said a focus would be on securing the cockpit and possibly use of a system to gas the passenger cabins in the event of a terrorist attack so they would be knocked out, buying extra time for the pilot to land safely. But those questions weren't what stunned the audience the most. When Seabaugh talked about the Legislature's teen driving bill, which goes into affect Jan. 1, the students reacted in disbelief. The law, Seabaugh said, will forbid 16-year-old drivers from having passengers in their vehicle for the first six months after getting their license. The curfew for those drivers has also been cut short and will end at midnight, Seabaugh added. Before the question and answer session, however, Seabaugh said the most important thing students can do is vote after educating themselves on the issues and candidates, of course. "As young adults, your first responsibility is to vote," Seabaugh said, noting that the nationwide voter turnout rate in the last election hovered near 50 percent, but was higher in Fayette. Seabaugh also urged the students to involve themselves with community service groups "who go out and help others without waiting for the government to do so."
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