2) Why has a comprehensive federal school safety plan not been implemented for students in the U.S. According to the Small Arms Research project, there are 121 firearms for every 100 residents in the US compared to an estimated 35 guns per 100 residents in Canada. Rifles – the category that includes guns sometimes referred to as “assault weapons” – were involved in 4% of firearm murders. You can also read key public opinion findings about U.S. gun violence and gun policy. The National Education Association (NEA) is more than 3 million people—educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, and friends—who believe in the opportunity for all students and the power of public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society. And we know that the long-term effects of toxic stress can change the brain and body’s makeup, particularly for children, severely affecting both physical and mental health.
In states with no secure storage laws or only reckless access storage laws, the gun suicide rate among young people ages 10 to 24 years old increased by 36 percent from 1999 to 2022 (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 2023-h). More than one-third of those children reported handling their parents’ guns, many doing so without the knowledge of their parents (Baxley & Miller, 2006). One study showed that the majority of children are aware of where their parents store their guns. A key recommendation from the Learning Policy Institute is to invest in ongoing education and support for all educators to develop knowledge of and expand access to restorative practices among all students (Darling-Hammond, 2023).
Domestic violence involving firearms also puts women at heightened risk of death or life-changing injuries. Led by Dr. Derek Collins, we convert decades of behavioral health and legal expertise into a comprehensive liability shield and safety framework. Our comprehensive approach integrates families, staff, and students into a cohesive safety net. Furthermore, the presence of a firearm makes domestic violence situations five times more likely to become lethal. 40% of children live in a household with firearms. Our leaders must take responsible action to keep our schools safe.
#2 for gun laws
The number of gun deaths in 2023 (46,278) NEA Gun Violence Prevention Guide was the third-highest total on record, trailing only the two previous years. That was one of the highest percentages since 2000, when 57% of suicides involved a firearm. More than half of all suicides in 2023 – 27,300 out of 49,316, or 55% – also involved a gun. About eight-in-ten U.S. murders in 2023 – 17,927 out of 22,830, or 79% – involved a firearm. The remaining gun deaths that year involved law enforcement (604), were accidental (463) or had undetermined circumstances (434), according to CDC data.
Integrate Community Violence Intervention Programs into Schools
- After the Columbine shooting in 1999, the FBI and the Secret Service each conducted studies of school shootings and shared their knowledge with the nation’s educators.
- Explore data, research findings, and effective strategies to prevent firearm injuries and deaths.
- But Dewey Cornell at the University of Virginia, another author of the Call to Action, says researchers have gathered good evidence to support the technique, when implemented fully as in Virginia.
- Evidence strongly suggests that secure firearm storage—storing guns unloaded, locked, and separated from the ammunition—is essential to any effective strategy to keep students, educators, schools, and communities safe (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 2023-d).
- Interventions for reducing violence and its consequences for young Black males in America.
- School administrators, in compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. � 1400 (2004), may modify these expulsions on a case-by-case basis for students with disabilities.
Even in Australia, where conservative-leaning politics and rural traditions had long favored gun ownership, citizens broadly accepted the buyback. The rate of mass shootings plummeted from once every 18 months to, so far, only one in the 26 years since. Similar trends can be seen in New Zealand and Australia, both of which historically harbored cultures of gun ownership. “So I think America should perhaps be comparing itself not necessarily with Britain alone but with a whole range of countries who have unfortunately experienced mass shootings but only a small number of them.” And yet, he sees other countries with similar histories which have successfully passed strict gun control measures.
Students may be reluctant to relay information that might help avert a gun violence incident because of fear of getting in trouble, being labeled a “tattletale,” or not being believed or taken seriously. NEA’s website includes additional information on community schools. Laws like background checks stop gun sales to people legally prohibited from buying guns. To achieve this goal, state legislatures must fully fund and staff schools so that educators have the time and attention to recognize early warning signs and take action to address students’ needs. In fact, it compromises the safe and trusting environment necessary to thwart gun violence, introducing new liability risks and complicating law enforcement responses in the event of an active shooter incident.3Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund (2024). Learn NEA’s position on pending legislation related to public education, and take action to protect our schools
Endemic gun violence damages the learning environment by disrupting school attendance and rates of retention, and makes it harder to recruit and retain teaching staff. The psychological toll from rampant gun violence is often heavy, particularly for victims, their family members and those who have witnessed shootings. Gun violence is violence committed with firearms, such as handguns, shotguns, or semi-automatic rifles. Anyone can be affected by gun violence, but it often disproportionately impacts people of colour, men and boys in deprived communities, and other marginalized groups. This chapter aims to guide discussing firearm safety and lethal means counseling for at-risk students in the school setting. With both firearms access and injuries continuing to rise, it is no longer a safe assumption that school-aged children are not personally affected by firearm violence.
