MADISON, Wis. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements following a shooting this morning at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. While details are still unfolding, police are reporting that at least two people have been shot and killed and at least six others have been shot and wounded, some of them life-threatening. The shooter was a student of the school.
“As a mother of four, I live with fear every time my children step out the door. But if there’s one place they should always be safe, it’s at school,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “The news of yet another school shooting is absolutely heartbreaking. These tragedies aren’t inevitable — they’re the result of choices made by lawmakers who prioritize gun industry profits over our children’s lives. It doesn’t have to be this way – our children deserve better, they deserve to live.”
“Our hearts are broken by the news of the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School – a place that should feel safe and secure. We are praying with their families,” said Liz Miller, leader with the Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action. “It’s my worst nightmare for any child to be gunned down at school. We must continue to demand meaningful action on gun safety from lawmakers at every level of government.”
“Going to school shouldn’t be a death sentence, but it’s a reality my generation knows all too well,” said Stella Osiedacz, a volunteer with the Wisconsin Students Demand Action chapter. “We’ve been here too many times to know that this tragedy won’t be the last and these shootings will continue until we come together to put an end to our nation’s gun violence crisis. A future where we can go to school without being shot is possible, so we’ll fight for that future every step of the way.”
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children, teens and young adults (ages 1 to 25) in the United States. Children, teens and young adults in the U.S. are impacted by gun violence in all its forms. Exposure to gun violence has an impact on the psychological and mental well-being of young people and affects their school performance, among other factors.
According to an analysis by Everytown, gun violence on K-12 school grounds rose by 31 percent last school year, the second-highest number of incidents since Everytown began tracking gun violence at schools more than a decade ago.
In an average year, 741 people die and 1,686 are wounded by guns in Wisconsin. Guns are the second leading cause of death among children and teens in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin an average of 69 children and teens die by guns every year. More information about gun violence in Wisconsin is available here.