The legislation also toughens laws against the trafficking of guns and straw purchasing, the practice of buying a gun on behalf of someone barred from purchasing one. As explained by Emily Cochrane and Zolan Kanno-Youngs of the New York Times, “The gun legislation will expand the background check system for prospective gun buyers under the age of 21, giving authorities up to 10 business days to examine juvenile and mental health records. The most common state gun control laws include background checks, waiting periods, and registration requirements to purchase or sell guns. The Child Safety Lock Act requires that all handguns be sold with a “secure gun storage or safety device.”
“This new guide is a powerful tool in our movement, providing schools with the resources they need not only to prevent gun violence but also to heal from the trauma when it does occur. While we wish this type of guidance wasn’t even necessary, the reality is that we need to step up to not only prevent future instances of gun violence but also equip schools and communities with the knowledge of how to respond when another tragedy occurs.” “Every student in America — Black or White, Asian or Latino, native or newcomer—deserves a welcoming and safe learning environment, free from the fear of gun violence in their school or community,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. Finally, the traditional model of law enforcement working in schools has not been shown to reduce school shootings or gun incidents, but the presence of law enforcement has played a heavy role in criminalizing students, particularly students of color, and can have a negative impact on learning outcomes for all students.
We work hand in hand with you to addressthe particular needs of your district or school. How can we create space for students to reflect on such upsetting news? The shooting in Colorado Springs is on the minds of many young people – and adults. In a healing circle, students share their responses to the attack on an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs.
Promoting the adoption of gun violence-related collective bargaining language and administrative policy, including the creation or enhancement of health and safety committees, is another effective way to combat gun violence. Considering that 4.6 million children under the age of 18 live in homes with guns, secure storage interventions play a critical role in overall school safety.2Miller, M., & Azrael, D. Research in 2024 by 97Percent, a bipartisan gun safety organization, revealed that 85% of gun owners support universal background checks and policies disqualifying violent offenders from owning guns. But sadly, children and young people are surrounded by gun violence. The NRA-ILA actively lobbied against universal checks and registration, “large” magazine and “assault weapons” bans, requiring smart gun features, ballistic fingerprinting, firearm traces, and prohibiting people on the terrorist watchlist from owning guns; and in favor of self-defense (stand your ground) laws. It pours more federal money into mental health resources in communities and schools across the country, and it sets aside millions for school safety.
Why This Guide
Gun safety in schools encompasses comprehensive strategies designed to prevent, respond to, and recover from firearm-related threats in educational environments. The gun homicide rate in the U.S. is 26 times higher than that of other developed countries, but research shows that common-sense public safety laws can reduce gun violence and save lives. This guide is designed to help educators of all types and all levels of experience join with others to end gun violence in our schools. We know that each community varies with respect to their approach to guns and their experiences with gun violence. We look to the day when this guide will be unnecessary and obsolete, but for now we—the members of this nation’s largest labor union—must focus our attention on how to end gun violence in our schools and our communities. While we are grateful for the strides President Biden has made, it is clear that more still needs to be done, which is why NEA set out to issue a call to action to end gun violence in our schools and communities.
- Advanced AI-powered detection systems represent the cornerstone of modern school gun safety prevention programs.
- They arose from a myriad of concerns tied to safety, crime, hunting, communal defense, and slavery.
- To optimize usability for NEA members, the NEA School Gun Violence Prevention and Response Guide includes supplemental materials such as checklists and lists of potential organizations to partner with on the state and local levels to address the menace of gun violence together.
- It strives to thwart recurring shootings by emphasizing collaborative efforts among educators, schools, administrators, and communities to effectively address gun-related tragedies.
- This guide is designed to help educators of all types and all levels of experience join with others to end gun violence in our schools.
- The decline in the gun death rate since 2021 is mostly due to a decrease in the rate of gun murders.
Looking at Data on Gun Violence and School Shootings
Trauma-informed resources for those impacted by the multiple shootings by ICE agents in Minneapolis Preventing school shootings is a complex and ongoing challenge that requires the collective effort of individuals, communities, and policymakers. To effectively prevent NEA Gun Violence Prevention Guide school shootings, we must rely on evidence-based strategies and continuously adapt to new challenges.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Childhood Trauma, Grief, and Toxic Stress
Promoting responsible gun ownership involves comprehensive training on safe handling and storage, including the importance of carrying guns. Furthermore, the curriculum must include conflict resolution skills to equip students with the tools necessary to manage disputes without resorting to violence. A comprehensive public health response involves collaboration between law enforcement, social services, and community-based practitioners. By focusing on root causes such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment, this approach aims to create safer environments through prevention efforts that go beyond immediate crisis response. For more on strategies to advocate for measures that limit access to guns, see NEA’s Legislative Program and Everytown’s Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.
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