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Guns Torment Kids at School: 1,000 Incidents Involving Guns Have Shaken America's Schools Since 2018 (Axios)
The stunning rise in gun violence on school property is reshaping the daily lives of America's youngest generation, putting children at the center of a previously unthinkable number of life-or-death moments.
273 people were killed or wounded on school grounds from 303 gun-related incidents in 2022 alone - both record highs, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. And this new data comes as we mark exactly one year since 19 children and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
"The threat of gun violence has become a constant in children's lives in this country and we're seeing the impact of it," said Sarah Burd-Sharps, senior director of research at the Mike Bloomberg-founded Everytown for Gun Safety advocacy group.
Voters in several states have had enough of gun violence, and have elected gun sense candidates for office who are making progress on gun safety.
On Monday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that will make it easier for authorities to seize firearms from people who are believed to be a danger to themselves or others, commonly known as "red flag" laws.
And just last week, Minnesota Governor Tam Walz signed two gun safety initiatives into law, establishing universal background checks for gun purchases in the state and implementing a process to remove firearms from those who pose a threat to themselves or others. "Basic gun safety isn’t a threat to the Second Amendment – it’s about keeping our kids safe," Governor Walz wrote on Twitter after signing the bills into law.
Building on these successes and more, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action and numerous organizations are gearing up for Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 2. The day will be marked by 'Wear Orange Weekend' to honor survivors and those lost to gun violence.
Click here to learn more about how Everytown is working to end the epidemic of gun violence in the US, and how you can participate in Wear Orange weekend.
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