Independence High School Shooting is Seventh School Shooting in 2016; 167th School Shooting Since 2013
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement in response to a school shooting at Independence High School in Glendale on Friday morning in which two 15-year-old female students were reportedly shot and killed. The shooter and victims have not yet been identified.
This is the seventh school shooting in 2016 and the 167th school shooting since 2013.
STATEMENT FROM LISA KISER, MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK AND A SURVIVOR OF THE 2002 SHOOTING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCHOOL OF NURSING:
“Today my thoughts are with the entire Independence High School community. As a survivor of the shooting at the University of Arizona School of Nursing, I know firsthand just how devastating school shootings can be – not just in those harrowing moments, but also for years to come. We don’t yet know all the details of this morning’s tragic events, but we do know that there should have never been a gun in that school, and the students and staff should never have had to experience what they did.”
STATEMENT FROM GENEVA HABER, A VOLUNTEER LEADER WITH THE ARIZONA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our thoughts are with the students, staff and families affected by this morning’s shooting at Independence High School. While details are still unfolding, we know that there have been at least seven school shootings in America in 2016 so far, and at least 167 school shootings since 2013. Students, teachers and faculty go to school to learn and to teach, and they should be able to do so without worrying about the threat of gun violence in their hallways and classrooms. Parents across Arizona will not stop working until our laws make it harder for dangerous people to get their hands on guns and stop wreaking havoc on our communities.”