This petition comes from the heartbreak and lessons learned from the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School, where 4 people lost their lives. We share this personal, painful tale across Georgia to demonstrate the urgency and necessity for better preparedness in our educational institutions.

An American Journal of Public Health study showed that active shooter incidents have increased dramatically over the past decades. It further revealed that the majority of these instances occur in places of education (Cohen et al., 2014). We need to equip our colleges, the future of our society, with the right training and procedures to handle such devastating events. The deadliest school shooting in US history was Virginia Tech (2007).  A student opened fire on a college campus and 32 people lost their lives. 

Requiring regular lockdown drills in colleges would make an invaluable difference in these situations where every second counts. Drills accustom students and staff to the correct procedures, decreasing panic and confusion and thereby potentially saving lives.

We call upon the educational authorities and lawmakers in Lawrenceville, GA, and throughout the country, to mandate regular lockdown drills for active shooter situations in all higher education institutions. Your signature on this petition might help save student lives in the future. It's time to move beyond the pain and use the lessons to safeguard our future. Please sign the petition and show your support for this crucial issue.