According to a March 2 report on CNN, there have been 12 school shootings thus far in 2018. While the debate rages on how best to prevent future gun-related tragedies from happening, one thing is certain: public outcry and the demand for legislative change regarding gun laws have reached an all-time high.
In the wake of so many shootings, including the massacre in Parkland, FL, your community may be searching for anti-gun-violence resources and information on future action they can take. Here are a few tools to help you get started.
Coming up quickly on March 14 at 10am across every time zone, students, teachers, and others can participate in the National School Walk-Out, a campaign ignited by Women’s March Youth EMPOWER and designed “to demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools, on our streets and in our homes and places of worship.” Visit their site for a list of schools participating in the walk-out, or to register your school to participate.
Hot on the heels of the National School Walk-Out is the March for Our Lives happening on March 24. The goal of this international event is to “demand that [kids’ and families’] lives and safety become a priority, and that we end gun violence in our schools and communities.” Find your local march here.
In both the above walk-out and march, students may wonder what rights they have as activists inside and out of school. The ACLU has put together pertinent information for this express purpose.
The Brady Campaign, first begun in the 1980s by Jim and Sarah Brady, has the goal of cutting U.S. gun deaths in half by 2025. Learn how you can get involved in the work that they do.
Asking Saves Kids (ASK) is an initiative that encourages parents to inquire whether there’s an unlocked gun in a home where their child visits. While this conversation may seem awkward, ASK provides a toolkit on how to broach the topic. You’ll also find brochures, posters, infographics, and web banners.
Speak Up (1-866-SPEAK-UP) gives kids a hotline to anonymously report weapons threats at their school. According to Speak Up, 4 out of 5 school shootings were committed by perpetrators who told someone else about their plans first.
Know other valuable gun violence prevention tools? Please share in the comments below.
Featured image photo courtesy of Fibonacci Blue, no changes made.
Marika Jeffery, a Youth Services Librarian with the San Diego Public Library system, is writing this post on behalf of the Public Awareness Committee. She can be reached at mjeffery@sandiego.gov.