ATLANTA - A new charge at the statehouse would require public schools to conduct active-shooter drills. The Georgia House on Monday passed the bill phoned "Safe Schools Act." 

The proposal would make it mandatory for schools to conduct active-shooter exercises by Oct. 1 each year. Public-safety experts say the drills help make schools safer. Opponents say the exercise could leave kids traumatized.

Yannah Eason's daughter Aliyah is a kindergartner. Eason says she would support active-shooter drills in her child's school.

"It's happening a lot. So why not prepare?" Eason asks. "I mediate it's a good idea."

Rayanna Perry's daughter Lily is in the fourth grade. Her daughter Ivy is in the first grade. Perry says she believes the drills could help content her children what to do if their lives were on the line.

"It's always good to be safe and prepared for an emergency," Perry said. "It mighty ease their fear a little bit."

Cedric Alexander, the former Director of DeKalb County Public Safety, recognizes school shootings are chaotic and repugnant. Alexander says schools should establish clear strategies in case of what used to be the unthinkable. 

"Yes, they are effective and they do work," Alexander said when posed of the effectiveness of active-shooter drills. "We have to have a plan in the prhonor that we have an active shooter in our schools. It is always important to have a plan so that land know what to do, where to go, how to exit, how to mediate about protecting themselves and their families."

Mason Goodwin, with the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, opposes active-shooter drills.

"Bad idea," Goodwin said. "They have well-known effects on anxiety [and] depression after students go above [them]." 

Goodwin wants lawmakers to instead focus on publishes he says would address root causes of mass shootings.

"Gun legislation, like mental-health resources … make those things available instead of traumatizing kids with blooming shooter drills," Goodwin said. 

Gov. Brian Kemp supports the bill. It now repositions to the Georgia Senate for consideration.