May 27, 2022
In the wake of preventable gun violence that took the lives of 19 children and 2 adults on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the Cal Poly School of Education Equity & Inclusion Committee stands in solidarity with the Uvalde community, the families, and friends of Robb Elementary School and the people of Texas. We repudiate these horrific acts of violence against children and fellow educators. We know that thoughts and prayers are not enough. Actions must be taken to address this country’s unmatched history of gun violence and prevent further massacres from happening.
In 2022 there have been more mass shootings than days in the year. It has been almost a decade since the mass shooting occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School, taking the lives of 20 children and 6 adults. In less than one decade, there have been 948 school shootings in the United States. Currently, firearms are the number one leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. This is unacceptable, and a nation’s government should never sit idly with that statistic.
Since the shooting at Sandy Hook, no effective legislation has been passed to regulate gun ownership and end gun violence. We know that the United States is the only country to have frequent, normalized gun violence occur daily. Based on data, research, and models from other countries, we also know that gun violence is preventable.
We acknowledge that school shootings, and gun violence are not new, and should have been adequately addressed decades ago. We call on those in power to take immediate action at the local, state, and national levels to end this aberrant wave of shootings and the devastation these crises have on our communities. The School of Education also urges that our community members demand change. Actions that can be taken include, but are not limited to:
The history of gun violence, mass shootings and school massacres in the United States is exhausting. No society should have to endure such loss, fear and angst over targeted acts that are preventable. We recognize that we all need to take time to process this trauma, while simultaneously fearing that another act of gun violence will occur if nothing changes. We must keep taking actions to end gun violence, just as we continue to take actions to end racism, sexism, ableism, antisemitism, anti-queerness, transphobia, and all the forms of injustice.
We grieve deeply with Uvalde, Texas, and hold their community in our hearts and thoughts.
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