Decatur students write bill at student congress

DECATUR — A team of Decatur High School students received second place for a bill they wrote for the Arkansas Student Congress, held in Little Rock Nov. 4-6.

The seven Decatur students won second place for their bill proposing that active duty military personnel over 18 should be able to apply for a concealed carry permit before they turn 21, according to teacher James Garner. While the bill died in committee, it was chosen as the second best by an independent judge. It was co-authored by Amanda Davies and Josh Hare, and the entireteam contributed to writing the bill, Garner said.

Individually, Morgan Norris received a medal for the best speaker of the delegation. Brittany Libberton was chosen as head page for house one.

This is the second year the Decatur team has participated in the event. Meetings and legislative sessions were held in the Crown Plaza Hotel and in the State Capitol.

Sixteen high schools and four universities participated in the event, according to the Arkansas Communication and Theater Arts website. A copy of the bills submitted to the student congress can be viewed on the organization’s website, www.actaa.net.