The United States Passes This Tragic Milestone as Gunfire Rings Out at HBCU in Baltimore, Five People Shot and Wounded
Since the Start of 2023, There Have Been at Least 103 Incidents of Gun Violence on School Grounds in the United States with 72 People Shot and Wounded and 30 People Killed
Three out of Four School Shooters Acquire the Gun From Their Home; At Least 4.6 Million Children Live in a Home With at Least One Unlocked and Loaded Firearm
NEW YORK – A new analysis from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund shows that this week, the United States has surpassed more than 100 incidents of gun violence on school grounds in 2023. Since January, there have been 103 instances of gun violence on school grounds, in which 72 people have been shot and wounded and 30 others were shot and killed. The United States surpassed this tragic milestone as the Baltimore community is left grieving after gunfire rang out at Morgan State University’s Homecoming celebration last night, where at least five people were shot and wounded, four of which were students.
Everytown’s new analysis comes after several notable incidents of gun violence on school grounds across the country including two incidents at the University of North Carolina within the span of two weeks and countless incidents of gunfire at high school sporting events.
Everytown’s research found that after students returned to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year, the number of shootings at schools spiked to unprecedented levels with more incidents than any other school year in history. During the 2022-23 school year, the number of incidents of gunfire on school grounds was more than double the average number of incidents that occurred in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic began, making it the school year with the second-highest number of incidents since tracking began in 2013.
“School gun violence is preventable – we don’t have to live like this and our children and their educators deserve better,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action. “We can prevent gun violence in our schools by implementing common-sense policies like secure gun storage laws and comprehensive background checks that prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands, but we can’t do it alone – our elected leaders need to step up to put the safety of our kids above the demands of the gun lobby. No more thoughts and prayers, we need action.”
“My friends and I shouldn’t have to live in fear that gunfire could erupt at any moment, especially at school, where we should be focused on learning,” said Clara Taub, a volunteer with Students Demand Action and a high school junior at Denver East High School in Denver, CO. “Guns have become the number one killer of my generation, and we’re fed up. We refuse to accept that gun violence has to be an inevitable part of our lives. Save the thoughts and prayers and instead give us action NOW that keeps students and school staff safe.”
When it comes to how students are exposed to gun violence, gunfire at schools is just the tip of the iceberg. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children, teens and college-aged people in America. Every year, nearly 19,000 children and teens are shot and killed or wounded and approximately three million are exposed to gun violence. Witnessing shootings – whether in their schools, their communities or their homes – can have a devastating impact. Even for those who haven’t experienced gun violence, the trauma of experiencing active shooter drills and swatting incidents – which are happening with increasing frequency – leaves students, teachers and parents across the country experiencing firsthand the impacts of the gun lobby’s ‘guns everywhere’ agenda. More information on gun violence on school grounds and school safety is available here.
K-12 data for Everytown’s Gunfire on School Grounds tracker is provided in partnership with David Riedman of the K-12 School Shooting Database.
If you are interested in speaking with a Students Demand Action or Moms Demand Action volunteer, or a policy expert on school safety please reach out to [email protected].
