Every day, parents across the United States send their children to school with the expectation that they will be safe and given the opportunity to learn in a secure environment. Unfortunately, gun violence  continues to threaten the safety and well-being of children. According to the Gun Violence Archive, in 2023, there were over 659 mass shooting, many of which were in American schools. The total amount of deaths were over 19,000 and over 36,000 injuries. This issue needs immediate and decisive action from both lawmakers and communities to protect our children.

On May 24, 2022, there was a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 19 students and 2 teachers were killed and 17 others were injured. This event caused by a former student has impacted many people; families and friends. The community in Uvalde had to deal with the loss of their children and the futures they had. This horrifying event is a big reason to why we, citizens, need to push for more gun laws.

In the bill, H.R.2869- School Shooting Safety And Preparedness Act, It requires the secretary pf education to publish an annual report an indicators of school crime and safety. This includes data on school shootings and more. They require statistics on the number of school shootings taken place, number of mass shootings, number of suicides, accidents, number of people killed or injured and more. They also mention statistics based on victims ages, genders, race, etc. and the shooters age, gender, race, etc. This bill will help to advocate for more gun laws because the reports being made will be essential to convincing lawmakers and policy shins how important it is to make more laws or strengthen existing ones. The statistics will show the negative and tremendous impact on children and their families in America.

We suggest reinforcing existing gun laws to include longer and comprehensive  background checks, mandatory waiting periods, higher age to obtain a license and buy guns and restrictions on the sale of  assault weapons. Additionally, we call for more investments in mental health services within schools and all over the country, ensuring that all students and people have access to the support they need.

These measures have been proven effective in other countries, leading to a significant decrease in gun violence. Australia, for example, implemented strict gun control laws following a mass shooting in Port Arthur in 1996, resulting in a dramatic decrease in gun-related deaths.

It is time for the United States to take similar steps to ensure the safety of our children. We urge Congress and even local lawmakers and politicians to enact these changes to protect the lives of our future generations. Take a stance with us in demanding a safer future for every child walking into a classroom.

Please sign this petition to support stronger gun violence laws and help create a safer environment for children in American schools. Together, we can make a difference.