American College Health Association (ACHA)’s Post

One month into 2024 and there have been more than 25 gun-related incidents on U.S. school campuses. In addition to those, we're still seeing, and feeling, the impact of incidents from years ago, including: ☑ Increasing anxiety around school attendance and events ☑ Rises in swatting and hoax incidents ☑ Parents facing charges ☑ Mental health support issues ☑ Deteriorating trust with community members And even when shots aren’t fired during gun-related incidents on campus, there are costs.    They're for things many people don’t consider, like healthcare costs for anxiety and other stress-related issues, hefty legal fees, increased insurance rates, additional guard staffing expenses, more sick days as a result of fear...   ...and the cracks keep spreading. Gun violence on campus is a concern—and we want to stop it. Learn more in our Impact of Gun Violence recorded webinar: https://lnkd.in/g4e_w6VA

OPEN POST TO VA GOV YOUNGKIN & AG MIYARES; THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA MAYOR & COUNCIL; ACPS LEADERSHIP Where is the comprehensive safety and security plan for Alexandria's school system? U.S. surgeon general declares firearm violence a public health crisis https://lnkd.in/dT9PtEZN "U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis Tuesday and called on the nation to address it with the same vigor used to reduce deaths and injuries from tobacco and motor vehicle crashes." "... As of 2020, firearm-related injuries had become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19 in the United States. Gun-related deaths for youths exceed those from vehicular accidents, cancer and heart disease." The advisory: https://lnkd.in/dVi8tuG6 DEADLIEST US SCHOOL SHOOTINGS “Mass shooters have killed hundreds of people throughout U.S. history in realms like stores, theaters and workplaces, but it is in schools and colleges where the carnage reverberates perhaps most keenly — places filled with children of tender ages, older students aspiring to new heights and the teachers planting the seeds of knowledge, their journeys all cut short.” From columbine to robb, 169 dead in US mass school shootings. AP News. https://lnkd.in/dDQnkC-r... 17 facts about gun violence and school shootings. Sandy Hook Promise. https://lnkd.in/d6_Q9QkG Silencing staff that speak up is not a solution. It's agains the law.

Will someone please tell Biden and his Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy that stupidity is the actual true “public health crisis” plaguing this administration in particular and the progressive, far left, anti 2A, anti US Constitution, socialist “D” party, in general. What’s going unsaid is that there IS just one problem: The Numbers. “Buried in the Newsweek article, which quoted Giffords stating it has long “advocated for a public health approach to gun violence,” was this observation:” “The 10 states with the strongest gun laws, in ranking order, were California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland and Colorado…” And these states, and they aren’t the only ones, and their large progressive “D” lead crime riddled cities within them, ALSO have some of the highest violent crime and overall crime rates in the entire country. Committed by criminals using guns already heavily restricted and nearly outlawed by those states. Criminals cause crime. The criminals ARE the public health emergency they’ve been looking for, and apparently, by their actions, encouraging, to higher and higher levels to create the (false) perception that “guns” are the problem. Education IS the answer

SCHOOL SHOOTINGS: FAILING TO PREPARE MEANS PREPARING TO FAIL When we say that we live in the developed world, what does it mean?  Life expectancy is high, newborn mortality is extremely decreasing, and there are fewer and fewer people dying from hunger. Technologies are running the world and making impossible things possible. Universal access to education and health care without discrimination, both are included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It is heartbreaking to see, that our children, born and raised in a magnificent developed country without suffering war and hunger, are shockingly, dying at schools.  Data shows that:  🔴 the U.S. averaged nearly one incident every day.  🔴 20% of all shootings in US history happened between 2020 and 2022  🔴 2023 met its highest total on record since at least 1966, with 346 shootings, 57 people killed, and 191 wounded. 🔴 Since the beginning of 2024 (23 DAYS), there were already 3 school shootings in the US, which resulted in 2 killed people and 8 wounded.  Moreover: ⚫ US has the highest gun ownership rate in the world, with 390 million guns owned by its 334 million residents ⚫ Barriers to gun ownership are also among the lowest in the world Unfortunately, what used to be considered a US phenomenon, is spreading even to the “safe and well-protected” Europe. Last year, many countries in Europe experienced fatal consequences of mass school shootings, e.g. University massacre in the Czech Republic just a few days before Christmas, where 15 people died and 25 were wounded. These tragedies can not be ignored.  What are the main factors contributing to the increasing trend of shootings at schools? Read the article about how to strengthen school security because as once B. Franklin said: "Failing to prepare means preparing to fail."  #schoolsafety #schoolshootings #masswarning #protectourchildren

How can urban schools like Innovations High School enhance their security infrastructure to prevent and respond effectively to daylight ambushes, considering the unique challenges of their surroundings? Urgent Call to Action: Addressing School Violence. The tragic daylight shooting in Chicago's Loop demands collective efforts to ensure the safety of students. Two students from Innovations High School in Chicago were fatally shot in a daylight ambush near Wabash and Washington streets. The masked gunmen, arriving in a dark-colored car and SUV, targeted 16-year-old Robert Boston and 17-year-old Monterio Williams as they left school. The incident has left families, friends, and the community devastated. Police are investigating the isolated attack, appealing for information while emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to solve the case. Key Takeaways: - Community-Law Enforcement Collaboration: Strengthen collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies to address and prevent violence near schools. - Preventive School Security Measures: Conduct regular security assessments and drills to prepare students and staff for emergency situations, emphasizing proactive safety measures. - Post-Incident Support Systems: Develop robust support systems within schools and communities to assist students, families, and affected individuals after violent incidents. #schoolsafety https://lnkd.in/g_y6i_x3

How can urban schools like Innovations High School enhance their security infrastructure to prevent and respond effectively to daylight ambushes, considering the unique challenges of their surroundings? Urgent Call to Action: Addressing School Violence. The tragic daylight shooting in Chicago's Loop demands collective efforts to ensure the safety of students. Two students from Innovations High School in Chicago were fatally shot in a daylight ambush near Wabash and Washington streets. The masked gunmen, arriving in a dark-colored car and SUV, targeted 16-year-old Robert Boston and 17-year-old Monterio Williams as they left school. The incident has left families, friends, and the community devastated. Police are investigating the isolated attack, appealing for information while emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to solve the case. Key Takeaways: - Community-Law Enforcement Collaboration: Strengthen collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies to address and prevent violence near schools. - Preventive School Security Measures: Conduct regular security assessments and drills to prepare students and staff for emergency situations, emphasizing proactive safety measures. - Post-Incident Support Systems: Develop robust support systems within schools and communities to assist students, families, and affected individuals after violent incidents. #schoolsafety https://lnkd.in/gmgsunDv

Hours before the Tennessee Legislative Session began, an ideologically diverse group of citizens known as the TN11 convened at the Capitol to unveil five proposals they created and that more than 30,000 Tennesseans weighed in on. Today’s reveal was part of an innovative civic experiment designed to bring solutions back to the center of our political conversations and lives. “Do not let what we created fade into the news and legislative cycles,” said Adam Luke, one of the TN11, as the following proposals were presented:  —Develop and promote tools for responsible gun ownership and offer training on how to use these tools —Allow courts to temporarily remove someone’s firearms if they are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others based on risk of violence  —Broaden the School Resource Officer (SRO) role beyond standard law enforcement to include human services practices, such as mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, and principles of child development —Reduce Adverse Community Environments and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and adult trauma that leads to gun violence by investing in youth and community development —Develop gun issue literacy resources for schools, communities, and the media Jaila Hampton, the youngest member of the TN11, issued her own plea: “We implore lawmakers to not only consider the proposed solutions but also to embody the spirit of constructive dialogue as they commence their session.” In this spirit, the TN11 also called on lawmakers to create a bipartisan Solutions Committee to explore consensus-based solutions that represent all Tennesseans. Solutions are not only possible, they’re necessary for our country to thrive. Join us as we empower remarkable citizens like these to rebuild America’s problem solving muscle. #solutions #gunsafety #gunrights #tennessee

"There have been 394 school shootings since Columbine, impacting more than 360,000 students who have experienced gun violence at school. It defies reality to argue that schools haven’t undergone significant hardening since Columbine, and it misses the point that schools have become safer, more secure places at the same time school shootings have become more numerous and deadly. Gun violence doesn’t originate at the schoolhouse door, and it won’t be solved there. Our policy making and political rhetoric urgently need to reflect that reality. Instead, elected officials have made communities less safe by under-funding social spending and school programming that contributes to community health and safety while expanding access and availability of firearms." My latest for Bleeding Heartland: https://lnkd.in/gzWSZteC

Along with the Ad Council Research Institute, I'm honored to launch a compilation report detailing the findings of two independent studies of the public’s views on the impact of gun violence on children and what can be done to reduce it. The new report includes findings from a mixed-method qualitative study of 74 participants, and a quantitative survey of over 3,000 respondents. The big picture? Americans are more alike than they are different when it comes to beliefs about gun violence’s impact on children and how to reduce it - including gun safety responsibility, education, and the overwhelming need to reduce the impact of gun violence on children and teens. The issue is, they're hesitant and unsure of how to start conversations on the topic. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gZjAJQDD

🚨 Gun Violence in American K-12 Schools: A Critical Analysis 🚨 In the last 58 years, more than 800 lives have been tragically lost to gun violence in American K-12 schools, according to a comprehensive analysis by researcher David Riedman. This sobering statistic underscores the urgent need for action and awareness surrounding this issue. Riedman's K-12 School Shooting Database reveals alarming trends: 804 victims killed and 2,221 wounded in 2,699 incidents since 1966. Shockingly, these numbers have seen a dramatic rise in recent years, with incidents increasing annually since 2020. The data highlights the pressing need for heightened security measures, especially during peak times of vulnerability such as morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals. Community initiatives, like the addition of school liaison officers and technological advancements in security systems, play crucial roles in addressing these challenges. Furthermore, it's essential to recognize that while indiscriminate active shooters capture headlines, the majority of school gun violence stems from escalated disputes. Internal preventative measures, including behavioral threat assessments and mental health support, are paramount in fostering safer school environments. As we navigate these complex issues, it's crucial to acknowledge the impact on students, families, and communities. Every incident leaves lasting scars, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures and support systems. Contact TRIDENT GROUP AMERICA today to find out more about our SCHOOL PROTECTION PROGRAM. #SchoolSafety #GunViolencePrevention #CommunityAwareness