New Report: As kids head back to school, elected leaders need to act to address gun violence
WASHINGTON — Today, the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a new report,Back to School: Leaders Must Act to Stop School Shootings. The report highlights ways in which elected officials at the federal level can act to address gun violence. The report comes one week after a school shooting in Winder, Georgia where a 14 year old used an AR-platform style weapon to kill two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School.
“As gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, we cannot afford to have a Congress that lets the gun lobby dictate policy. The tragic reality outlined in this report—that school shootings are at an all-time high, and that preventable gun deaths occur every day in our country—demands immediate action from lawmakers. We have the tools to prevent these senseless tragedies, from child access prevention laws to community violence intervention programs, but we need our leaders to step up. The time for thoughts and prayers has long passed—our leaders have bills they could move now to pass commonsense gun safety laws that will protect our kids at home, in their communities, and at school,” said report author Emma Silver.
Policies recommendations highlighted in the report:
- Child Access Prevention (CAP) and safe storage laws can significantly reduce child gun deaths.
- Community violence intervention (CVI) programs, especially in under-resourced communities, have proven effective in reducing gun violence.
- Raising the minimum age for gun purchases is critical, as young adults (18-20) are disproportionately involved in gun homicides and school shootings.
- Universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) help prevent dangerous individuals from accessing firearms.
MEDIA REQUESTS
Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
Contact