An update on school mass shootings, published 3-4-24 in "Pediatrics"
Let's focus on the research: see the short 4 min video abstract update below.
School shootings are becoming more frequent and reached a record high in the 2021-’22 school year, according to a new study published in Pediatrics.
Researchers from Clemson University College of Education also found school mass shootings have become deadlier.
A new video from the AAP about these new data on school shootings
“Over the 25-year span, there were 1,453 school shootings, according to the study. The lowest in a single year was 15 in 2009-’10, while 2021-’22 saw a high of 328. In the most recent five years, there were 794 school shootings compared to 659 in the previous 15 years.”
“A Pediatrics study last year found adolescent school shooters often use guns stolen from a family member. The AAP advises families not to keep guns in their home. Those who have them should keep them locked and unloaded with ammunition locked separately.”
I wrote about this issue recently here. All mothers need to be aware of these data, if we plan to ever do anything about school shootings.
“The data are clear that these tragedies cannot be prevented by focusing on school security alone,” Dr. Rebecca Cunningham Bell wrote. “Schools are extensions of our homes and communities and cannot be expected to be secure fortresses amid the easy availability of firearms.”